- Markus Babbel still backing Arne Slot
- Hails Duthcman as a ‘top manager’
- Questions decisions made this season
Arne Slot has been under pressure at Liverpool this season after subpar performances across all competitions. The manager’s future has been a talking point among the fans, with many calling for a change at the helm.
The Reds were knocked out of the FA Cup in the quarterfinals by Manchester City this season, while Crystal Palace defeated them 2-0 in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup to end the run early in the season.
The Anfield side have not managed to do much in their Premier League title defence, but a top 5 finish is on the cards, though it has not been sealed yet. They were humbled by Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League this season, with the French side running out 4-0 winners on aggregate in the quarterfinals.
Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have not shown any sign of making a change in the dugout, and one former Liverpool player believes that they are making the right call.
Markus Babbel backs Arne Slot at Liverpool
Former Liverpool defender Markus Babbel spoke to Anfield Index this week, backing Slot to keep his job at Anfield. He claimed that the Dutchman is still a ‘top manager’ and should be given the credit for taking the fight to Manchester City and Arsenal.
The 53-year-old added that the Reds head coach has shown that it is not a one-off incident, as he did fight the top clubs during his time at Feyenoord too. He hinted that winning the league last season should give him more time at Anfield and said:
“He won the league with Feyenoord, and he won the league with Liverpool, and that is in leagues where you are competing against Ajax, PSV and Man City and Arsenal. So he is clearly a top manager!”
However, Babbel pointed out one key issue with Slot, saying that the starting XI decisions have been strange. He admitted that the Dutchman has struggled in picking the best players and said:
“But this season he has struggled. He has made some strange decisions and played some strange lineups.”
The calls for Liverpool to stick with Slot come just weeks after Steven Gerrard also put his weight behind the coach. The Englishman said that winning the league last season should be enough to buy him more time at Anfield.
What do Liverpool have planned for Arne Slot?
David Ornstein spoke about Liverpool’s plans for the summer and said that they do not see the need to sack Arne Slot. He added that the Reds are not in talks with Xabi Alonso amid reports elsewhere and said:
“I’m not aware of [Xabi] Alonso being on Liverpool’s agenda. People might not like to hear that and if I’m proved wrong you can all laugh at me.”
The Athletic also reported that Alonso’s tactics were a concern for the Reds management and that would be a key reason why he might not land the Anfield job even if Slot was to make way.
