- Arne Slot is under more pressure after Manchester City loss
- PSG games could determine future
- Dutchman entering final year of contract
Arne Slot’s future at Liverpool has been in question for the last few months, with a large section of fans calling for a change in the dugout. The results have just not been good enough for the Anfield side, and there are no signs of improvement.
The 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City in the FA Cup on Saturday, April 4, made things worse for the head coach. The fans showed their feelings about the squad and the coach, with many walking out of the Etihad in the second half.
The Reds have just one more chance of winning silverware this season which is the Champions League, and Slot knows that anything less would be seen as a major failure at the club after spending around £450 million last summer.
Arne Slot has one final chance of saving Liverpool future
According to a report by Paul Joyce in The Times, Liverpool’s performance against Paris Saint Germain in the UEFA Champions League will play a key role in the club’s decision. He claims that the two quarterfinal games against the defending champions will be closely monitored by the decision makers at Anfield.
The two champions of their respective domestic leagues clashed last season too, with the French side winning 4-1 in the penalty shootout after a 1-1 aggregate draw. Both teams were in top form last season, but things are not the same this time around.
PSG come into the quarterfinals having thrashed Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate in the Round of 16, and won 3-1 on Friday against Toulouse.
Meanwhile, Liverpool beat Galatasaray 4-0 in the second leg at home following a 1-0 loss in Turkey in the first leg, but come into the game after a 4-0 loss at Manchester City.
Joyce has not mentioned whether the performance or result will play a role in deciding Slot’s future, but the fans would certainly see anything less than a humiliation in Paris this week as a big boost for the second leg next week.
The Dutchman will be entering the final year of contract at Anfield this summer and talks over a new deal have not been reported so far.
No way back with Liverpool fans for Slot, says Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard spoke about Slot’s future at Anfield last week, saying that the coach has credit in the bank after winning the Premier League title last season.
He believes that the Dutchman should be given more time to fix the issues and said on The Overlap’s Stick To Football podcast:
“He has [got credit in the bank] with me because more than anyone on the planet, I know how difficult it is to win a league. And I think someone who’s won a league deserves at least a full season to try and get out of the problems and the issues that they’ve got. I’m certainly one of those people, but I have to understand what the fans are saying as well, because it has been dire in certain games and performances. Really dire.”
However, Gerrard does not see Alot winning over the fans again. He claimed that the ship has sailed for the head coach and said:
“I hear really good things about him as a coach – his style, his tactics, the details. But as a Liverpool fan now and as an ex-player who knows what it’s like from the inside, these Liverpool fans, once they’ve got to this stage it’s very difficult to get them back around.”
Xabi Alonso has been linked in the media, but Joyce reported last week that the Spaniard is not in the running because of his tactics.
The Reds are fifth in the Premier League, 21 points behind leaders Arsenal, and are fighting for a place in the top four. Third place is the highest Slot’s side can finish this season, and that spot is currently occupied by Manchester United, who are six points clear.
