Manager still retains the backing of Fenway Sports Group but will need to convince Anfield once more and turn results around fast
Xabi Alonso may be available in the wings but Arne Slot still has the backing of the Liverpool hierarchy.
The Dutchman has now overseen 12 games unbeaten in all competitions after a calamitous autumn that saw the Premier League champions lose nine games out of 12, but Liverpool have also drawn four straight Premier League games and failed to beat any of the newly promoted sides at home, including the disappointing 1-1 draw to Burnley at Anfield on Saturday.
After that frustrating performance, there were boos ringing out in the stadium, and Slot later acknowledged that he “understands the frustration” of fans.
But Slot won Liverpool’s 20th Premier League title only last season so he still has credit in the bank as far as the club hierarchy are concerned, according to The Athletic. He has also had to deal with a major squad change in the summer, not to mention the tragic loss of Diogo Jota, and during the season Liverpool have been hit by injury problems.
Alexander Isak has struggled with fitness since joining for a Premier League record £125m last summer; Hugo Ekitike has been out of the squad in the past few weeks; and youngster Giovanni Leoni was ruled out of season with an ACL injury in September. There was also the notable failure to recruit an experienced centre-back, with the deal for Marc Guehi collapsing on deadline day. All of these are beyond Slot’s control.
Club legend Alonso is out of a job after leaving Real Madrid, and the Spaniard is highly rated among Liverpool’s senior management, but Slot still retains the backing of Fenway Sports Group. However, rather than test the limits of his credit, he will need to turn results around fast and also bring a mutinous Anfield back on board with his project.
