Liverpool’s performance under Slot this season can hardly be classified as that of winners and FSG may feel a change is necessary
Watching Liverpool on the pitch this season they’ve often looked very beaten.
That’s because they have been – numerous times this season. Arne Slot’s team have lost 19 games out of 54 played in all competitions this term.
It’s their joint-most defeats in a single campaign this century, and they have also become the first defending champions in Premier League history to lose 11 games.
That’s why it was striking that club chief John Henry said this week that Fenway Sports Group “don’t settle for mediocrity”. After such a mediocre season, will FSG allow Slot to lead the club into next season?
Liverpool are still on course to qualify for the Champions League, which has informally been understood to be the minimum requirement for Slot, something to hold onto and convince the owners that he merits a chance at a third season, having also won the Premier League in his first.
Henry’s comments about refusing to tolerate mediocrity came on the back of criticism following FSG’s dismissal of Alex Cora from the Boston Red Sox, another team owned by the group, after a poor start to their season.
“Fans get frustrated,” Henry said. “The Sox looked terrible for [their] first 25 games. I remember a plane flying overhead when we were beating Manchester United 7-0 that read ‘FSG OUT!’.
“It doesn’t mean you ignore them, it means you work harder – you don’t settle for mediocrity. You have to win.”
With just 28 wins out of 54 this season, Liverpool’s performance under Slot’s stewardship this season can hardly be classified as that of winners. It remains to be seen whether FSG feel that can change next season.
