Arne Slott’s future at Liverpool is expected to be determined by what happens over the next 10 days.
That’s according to a report from Football Paparazzi, which claims that Liverpool’s hierarchy are increasingly concerned about the current set-up and have “frozen” talks over Slott’s contract extension.
Liverpool’s board has so far publicly given its “full support” to Arne Slott, but has privately set out a three-game ultimatum that could decide the manager’s fate, according to reports.
Liverpool’s next 3 matches
The Reds first host Aston Villa at Anfield tonight, before hosting Real Madrid on Merseyside in a crucial Champions League clash. They will then travel to the Etihad Stadium to take on strong rivals Manchester City.
| upcoming matches | competition | venue | date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool vs Aston Villa | premier league | anfield | this weekend |
| Liverpool vs Real Madrid | champions league | anfield | mid week |
| Manchester City vs Liverpool | premier league | etihad stadium | next weekend |
Aston Villa are proving to be a difficult team to beat under Unai Emery. They will be full of confidence after beating Man City 1-0 last week and will be looking to pick up all three points against a team at rock bottom.
Liverpool will have to be at their best physically and mentally to beat Villa, but this is probably the only game they can realistically win out of the three they face at the moment.
A win against Villa could be crucial to regaining morale and momentum before facing Europe’s two biggest giants, Real Madrid and Manchester City. But further defeats could have devastating consequences for Slott’s tenure.
These three games have the power to determine Liverpool’s season. Losing to Villa and Man City in the league would not only end their chances of qualifying for the Premier League, but also make it impossible for them to break into the top four.
And if they lose to Madrid in the Champions League, it will be difficult for them to qualify for the next round.
If Liverpool make a change, who will replace Arne Slott?
Despite this report, it seems unlikely at this stage that Slott will be sacked as manager, especially given that he led Liverpool to the Premier League title last season.
But his form and performances have undoubtedly been abysmal, especially considering Liverpool’s record summer spending. If the poor performance continues, Liverpool may be forced to pull the trigger sooner than expected.
It will be interesting to see who they bring in at this point if Slott is released. Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has been in demand for the job so far and will definitely be someone the club will keep an eye on.
Plus, the connection with Richard Hughes makes that even more likely.
Iraola has also been linked with the Chelsea job, while Manchester United are also said to be fans of the Spaniard.
Liverpool legend Jurgen Klopp also did not rule out a return to Anfield in the future in a recent interview, likely returning to a stable managerial role in the short term.
It’s too early to predict Slot’s fate, but the next 10 days could be career-defining. Liverpool’s future results will determine not only the trajectory of the season, but whether the club will stick with their current manager or look elsewhere to salvage their season.