For weeks, there have been hints that the Dutch coach could be sacked despite leading Liverpool to Premier League glory last season.
Although Liverpool have started to find their form again and Mohamed Salah is out of the freezer, the rumours and doubts among pundits and Premier League fans about Arne Slot’s future as a manager continue. Even a club legend, Steven Gerrard, has been dragged into the discussion.
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As of the 17th league round, Liverpool are up to 5th place.
Gerrard recently gave an interview in which he admitted that he would not hesitate to accept an opportunity to return to Anfield. However, he emphasized that it is not his wish to take over as coach from Arne Slot at this time.
The pressure on the Castle is enormous. The defence of last year’s Premier League title has not been as expected. The club’s record-high spending on players like Alexander Isak – now injured – and Florian Wirtz has not produced the expected results.
The controversial conflict with star striker Mohamed Salah did not help improve Slot’s reputation either, and has sparked speculation that his position could be in jeopardy.
In the midst of all this, there has been no shortage of voices calling for Liverpool to replace Slot with Gerrard, who has been without a coaching job since leaving Al-Ettifaq in January.
The former midfielder is an icon – not only is he number three on the club’s list of most games, but also number six on the top scorers list. These factors, along with his lifelong association with the club, make many support the idea that he could one day lead the first team. He already has experience from lower levels, having coached the U18 and U19 teams.
In an interview with TNT Sports’ “Ally’s Social Club”, Gerrard admitted that he dreams of becoming Liverpool’s manager one day. At the same time, he emphasized that he is not in a hurry to achieve this, and that he is especially not waiting to take over from Arne Slot.
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“I’ll be brutally honest with you,” began Gerrard, who has previously received support from ex-manager Jürgen Klopp to become Liverpool’s manager one day. “I would help Liverpool in any situation, at any time. I would help them no matter what.”
“I don’t want Liverpool’s manager to lose his job. I want Arne Slot to get this right, turn it around and make Liverpool great again. I was walking around the city four or five months ago, when Liverpool won the league,” he said. “I am a Liverpool supporter, I want the best for Liverpool and if the club needs me in any way, at any time, I will be there for them.”
Is Arne Slot still under pressure?
It is a reality that managers at this level will always be under the microscope, and there are many examples of this in all leagues. Football experts such as Sports Illustrated’s Tom Gott believe Arne Slot will never avoid criticism, but they also agree that the Dutchman has “eased the pressure on his shoulders” in recent weeks.
Of course, the team’s performance on the pitch is still uneven, but Liverpool have improved significantly after Slot made adjustments and introduced a more compact formation. The tactical change also brought some setbacks and contributed to increased pressure on him, especially as it affected Mohamed Salah. At this point, however, it seems that both have gotten over the worst.
Arne Slot’s situation at Liverpool has gradually changed.
Unlike a few weeks ago, it would now come as a surprise if Slot was fired. Liverpool continue to support the Dutchman, who won great acclaim when he surprised everyone by winning the league last year.
And while the narrative is now tinged with pessimism, the truth is that Liverpool are still fighting for a place in the Champions League and are unbeaten in six consecutive games in all competitions. Everything indicates that Slot has found his way back to the groove and may have already passed the biggest test of his coaching career so far.
But not everything is celebration and joy. The recent injury to striker Alexander Isak, who was a record signing this summer, poses a new challenge for Slot. However, experts believe that, despite the fact that Isak’s injury looks serious, the coach will have plenty of time to find a solution.
Liverpool host Wolverhampton at Anfield on Christmas Day.
