Former Liverpool manager was sacked after disappointing result at Everton, but Arne Slott knows he needs to fight and win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium
Arne Slott is under pressure as Liverpool manager this season after losing 17 games (Image: Alex Livesey – Danehouse, Getty Images)
Although it was at a different stage of the season, the Merseyside derby against Everton proved to be the last game for the recent Liverpool manager. At Goodison Park in early October 2015, Romelu Lukaku gave the home side a deserved point and Brendan Rodgers was sacked.
His team were in 10th place in the Premier League, winning only 4 of 11 games in all competitions during the formative stages of that season. In fact, the 1-1 draw with Everton was arguably not the decisive blow for Rodgers.
A few days later, Jurgen Klopp was appointed manager. The decision to end Rodgers’ stint at Anfield, where he had been since June 2012, was clearly taken before the derby.
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In the case of Arne Slot, no such decision has been made. And regardless of the result of the first Merseyside derby, played at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Slott will not be sacked thereafter.
That’s exactly right. And as long as Liverpool can finish in the top five and qualify for next season’s Champions League, he shouldn’t be sacked in the summer.
Not only did Slott bring credit to the bank with the emphatic title win that marked his first season in English football, but the circumstances mitigating this disappointing campaign are more serious than most are willing to realize. It would be inappropriate to suggest how much of an impact Diogo Jota’s unimaginably tragic death has had, but it does put things into context.
Brendan Rodgers was sacked as Liverpool manager an hour after the Merseyside derby draw at Goodison Park (Image: Action Pictures via Reuters/Lee Smith)
On the field of play, Liverpool have had to deal with serious injuries that occur on a regular basis. The slot is currently without Alisson (hamstring problem), Conor Bradley (knee surgery), Giovanni Leoni (cruciate ligament rupture), Wataru Endo (ankle ligament rupture) and of course Hugo Ekitike, who has suffered a serious ankle injury.
Among the other big summer signings, Alexander Isak suffered a broken leg and Jeremy Frimpong has a recurring hamstring problem. Although Slott has complained about certain VAR interventions this season, he has never used a serious injury as an excuse.
By the way, regarding slot concerns, there are some interesting VAR numbers. When looking at net VAR interventions (favorable minus unfavorable), only Everton (-4) has a worse result than Liverpool (-3) in the Premier League.
Next up for the slot is Everton. And while results alone won’t really decide his Liverpool future, performances will definitely influence it.
Hugo Ekitike sustains serious injury in defeat against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield
It was in vain, but for much of the second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, the players showed an intensity that had been missing in previous games. He is indispensable against Everton.
They showed a physical strength that had been sorely lacking. He is indispensable against Everton.
They have shown a passion at times this season that has not reached the required level. He must be at the required level against Everton.
Even if Slott suffered a defeat similar to the Merseyside derby that instantly ended Marco Silva’s tenure at Everton, it was the 5-2 thrashing at Anfield in December 2019. But anything short of a full-throated response to recent disappointments will be the beginning of the end that will soon follow.
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