Jamie Carragher seems to love talking down his former arch-rival Manchester United, but in the last month the Liverpool legend has more or less lost faith in his own club. In other words, faith in Arne Castle. We have written “the chair is burning under Slot” after Liverpool’s original first choice to replace Jürgen Klopp, Xabi Alonso left Real Madrid and is tripping impatiently and job-seeking. Carragher is sending signs that Slot could automatically be finished as Liverpool manager at the end of the season.
No one missed a Xabi Alonso on the sidelines last season, when Arne Slot masterfully exploited Jürgen Klopp’s foundation and lifted the Liverpool players back to the Premier League title. Then came the always demanding second season. It started brilliantly with wins in a row. Back-to-back title seemed inevitable, but then came adversity in the autumn. Over their last 20 Premier League games, Liverpool have had six wins, six draws and eight losses. That corresponds to a win percentage of only 30%.
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Over the course of an entire season, a 30% win rate, combined with a handful of draws, would have seen a club narrowly avoid relegation and finish midway down the second half of the table.
Liverpool’s five-game winning streak at the start of the season has obviously saved the club from fearing relegation, but the poor form of the last 20 games – more than half a season – has created real fears that Liverpool will miss out on Champions League qualification, even if fifth place is on track to be enough to qualify again.
Two weeks ago, Reds icon, Jamie Carragher, insisted that Slot would be in serious danger of being sacked if the Champions League ticket was secured for next season:
“… I really fear for them, because they are not equipped for Premier League football. When you start to fear Champions League qualification for next season, that’s when I think we have a completely different proposition when we talk about the manager’s job. If we’re talking about not winning the league, or challenging, it’s a collective responsibility. Liverpool don’t win the league every year, but for the reigning Premier League champions to not reach the Champions League, spend £450 million and have the highest wage bill in the league, which is usually the biggest deciding factor in where you end up in the league, I think you have serious questions to ask.”
When Sky Sports presenter Dave Jones asked if it’s Champions League [qualification] or sacked?, Carragher replied: “Yes. Listen, I think some of the criticism and disrespect he’s received from Liverpool supporters has been far too much considering he won the league title last season, but if you don’t qualify for the Champions League after winning the title the season before and spending as much as Liverpool have, I don’t think you have a leg to stand on.”
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This was before Sunday’s Premier League game against Manchester City. After Liverpool’s 1-2 defeat at Anfield, Carragher stated that he no longer believed Liverpool would secure a Champions League ticket for the 2026/27 season.
In other words, the Liverpool legend believes that Arne Slot must be finished as manager of the Reds. The basis for continuing is gone.
