Many Liverpool fans have reportedly lost faith in head coach Arne Slot after only one year, despite his leading the team to a Premier League title in his inaugural season.
Liverpool‘s ownership group, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), is facing a familiar dilemma. With the reigning Premier League champions experiencing a concerning decline and fan discontent on the rise, FSG must determine the future of head coach Arne Slot.
Slot has reportedly lost the confidence of a significant portion of the supporter base. Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC Sport that he believes the situation will likely result in the Dutchman’s departure within a matter of months.
This situation is not new to the ownership group. In 2015, Brendan Rodgers faced a similar predicament, albeit without the Premier League title that Slot secured last season. Liverpool‘s fanbase grew increasingly dissatisfied as the season concluded with a humiliating 6-1 defeat to Stoke City, resulting in a sixth-place finish, 25 points behind champions Chelsea.
FSG, led by principal owner John W Henry and chairman Tom Werner, had to decide whether to maintain their support for the manager who nearly brought the Premier League title back to Anfield in 2014, ultimately opting to keep Rodgers but with a restructured coaching staff.
Rodgers received substantial financial backing, resulting in the signings of players such as Christian Benteke from Aston Villa for £32.5 million and Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim for £29 million, who later became a Liverpool icon. Simultaneously, the club recouped £49 million from the sale of Raheem Sterling to Manchester City.
However, the strategy proved unsuccessful, and Rodgers was dismissed in early October, paving the way for Jurgen Klopp’s arrival. This marked the beginning of a successful new era, with Liverpool winning the Champions League in 2019 and securing their first Premier League title in three decades the following year.
Now, FSG faces a similar decision. Will they continue to support a head coach who received £450 million in transfer funds last summer, or will they cut their losses and pursue a fresh start?
Currently, there are no indications that FSG intends to part ways with Slot. However, the voices of Liverpool supporters expressing their dissatisfaction with him are growing louder. The atmosphere at Anfield during Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea was described as unusually toxic.
Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, a hugely popular figure among the fanbase due to his stellar career at Anfield, is now being mentioned as a potential replacement, having won the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen before a short stint with Real Madrid.
Murphy believes that Slot’s departure is now a matter of when, not if, given the escalating discontent within the stands.
Murphy revealed that he was interviewed by Rodgers for a role in the revamped coaching team before the manager’s dismissal, with the position ultimately going to former teammate Gary McAllister.
He told BBC Sport: “Slot has won a title, which Brendan didn’t do, so on the surface it would make more sense to stick with him. I feel strongly it is unfair to say he only won the title with Klopp’s team. That’s just not right.”
“The problem Slot has got, especially at one of the biggest clubs in the world, is that when the fanbase turns, you are really, really struggling to get them back unless you win every game, and not just win, but win in a style Liverpool fans expect and demand.”
“This season you have seen Liverpool being dictated to by the way other teams play at Anfield. Fair enough, it’s different away from Anfield, but at home you expect Liverpool to be going after you, not giving you time to breathe. Too often it’s not been like that.”
This has resulted in a mutinous atmosphere not witnessed since Roy Hodgson’s six-month tenure at Liverpool in 2010-11, and during the final months of Rodgers’ reign, although that was characterized by resignation rather than outright revolt.
Murphy added: “It’s a great point to make the comparison with Rodgers and Slot, because there needs to be someone who’s in the wings and available who can take the reins now.”
“Is there a suitable candidate who can move them forward? The obvious name out there is Xabi Alonso, who is available. He has got popularity, which is key because it gives you a few months’ grace. It also means everybody starts the season in a good place with a lot of energy.”
Xabi Alonso – who won the Bundesliga at Bayer Leverkusen before a short reign at Real Madrid – remains a hugely popular figure at Liverpool but also interests Chelsea
While Alonso is reportedly emerging as a potential target for Chelsea, Murphy suggests that Liverpool should consider a more ambitious move and target Paris St-Germain coach Luis Enrique, who is currently on track for a second consecutive Champions League title.
“My only concern with Alonso is more to do with style,” said Murphy. “He struggled with man-management at Real Madrid but that’s a small concern.”
“The gut feeling is that he likes possession with the Spanish mentality, but maybe I’m doing him an injustice because he played at Liverpool. He understands what the fans want. He also has the advantage of previously working with Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong at Leverkusen.”
“If Alonso is a small risk, like anybody, you then ask is he still better than the situation they’re in? Unfortunately for Slot, I feel the answer is ‘yes’.”
Murphy expressed sympathy for Slot, especially considering the significant roster changes during the summer, stating: “Nobody wants that many changes when you’ve just won the title.”
“He had to replace players of the quality of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz. There has also been Mohamed Salah’s decline, which no-one saw coming. Salah then publicly challenged Slot’s authority, even though he gave him more time than he deserved before leaving him out.”
“There was the tragedy of Diogo Jota’s death, we must not forget that, and on the pitch it has not looked right from day one.”
“I think that boils down to the simple fact that the new players have found it difficult to cope with the pressure of playing for Liverpool.”
“If you take Hugo Ekitike out, the rest have struggled. Alexander Isak has been injured. Florian Wirtz is a real talent, but has not produced enough goals, or enough creatively.”
Liverpool’s principle owner John W Henry congratulates Arne Slot after last season’s title win
Murphy believes that Slot’s greatest challenge is regaining the support of Liverpool‘s fans, which has diminished rapidly this season.
He said: “I just don’t see a situation, irrelevant of transfer ins and outs – and there are going to be a lot in the summer – where the fans get back to being 100% behind Slot.”
“For that to happen he will have to go on a run like he did in the first season, where he basically won every game. He then has to play in a certain way that Liverpool fans expect.”
“I think Slot’s time is probably up. The main reason for saying this is not a dislike of him. I think he’s a good guy and a very bright coach, but the reality is Liverpool‘s fanbase is as powerful as any out there, for all sorts of reasons. We know how strong they are in fighting the cause over tickets and other issues, not just the manager.”
“I don’t remember a time when the fans turned on a manager then turned it back around.”
Murphy also suggests that FSG risks falling behind if they follow the Rodgers template from 2015 and retain Slot’s services.
He said: “What you’re doing then is taking the huge risk of banking on starting next the season amazingly well, with everything going brilliantly.”
“I think that’s unlikely, especially with the changes that are going to happen, so you’re then behind ‘the eight ball’ because you might have to take a decision when everyone else is kicking on.”
“I think we are looking at an inevitable departure whether it is now or a few months into the season.”
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