Arne Slot’s Liverpool Future Depends On Top Four Finish

Jamie Carragher believes that Arne Slot could end up being sacked by Liverpool at the end of the season, as the former defender gave a brutally honest prediction over the Dutch manager’s future.

The Reds dropped Premier League points on the road against Bournemouth on Saturday, as a late goal from Amine Adli secured an important win for the Cherries. Wins for Chelsea and Manchester United on Sunday meant that they went about Liverpool in the table, with the Merseysiders dropping to sixth.

The nature of the defeat has led to increased scrutiny on Slot, considering that his team have fallen short of pre-season expectations. Despite spending £450m on the likes of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, they are now battling to qualify for the Champions League, with dreams of back-to-back league titles firmly behind them.

Carragher Gives Slot Sack Prediction After Liverpool Loss

With the likes of Xabi Alonso and Luis Enrique among the favourites to replace Slot should Liverpool pull the plug, there is no shortage of elite options for the potential job. And Carragher, speaking on Monday Night Football, believes the current boss will have no excuse if the Merseyside club miss out on Champions League qualification.

He said: “If you don’t qualify for the Champions League, having won the league the season before and spent as much as Liverpool, he doesn’t have a leg to stand on.

“The real worry I have for Liverpool in terms of qualifying for the Champions League is the three big things that stand out in the Premier League now are set-pieces, counter-attacking football and coming up against low blocks. Liverpool can’t cope with any of them. What we’re seeing is a team in the Premier League that’s not suited to the Premier League.”

Carragher also stated that performances from teams around Liverpool were cause for concern, saying: “Once you start seeing what Manchester United and Chelsea have done in the last couple of weeks, you start seeing that Liverpool could actually finish outside the Champions League positions. I really fear for them. Once you start fearing Champions League qualification for next season, that’s when I think we’ve got a completely different proposition when we’re talking about the manager’s job. That, for me, is completely different.

“If we’re talking about not winning the league or challenging for the league, that is a collective responsibility, and Liverpool don’t win the league every year. Not making the Champions League from [being] champions, spending £450m and having the highest wage bill in the Premier League, which is normally the biggest determining factor over where you finish in the league, I think you’ve got serious questions to ask.”

Carragher Changes Tune Over Slot Just Days After Backing Him

Carragher’s comments mark something of a U-turn, with the Liverpool icon previously defending Slot in an episode of The Overlap’s Fan Debate. He had said last week that speculation over the manager’s future was “disrespectful” considering the success he brought in his first season.

Carragher said: “I want to tell you where I stand on the manager. I am starting to get a little wound up.

“I know social media is something you shouldn’t always use as a barometer of what every football fan thinks, but I feel there is a real disrespect towards Slot, considering what he’s done for the club.

“I know it’s not been a great season, but I’m almost a little taken aback by some of it on there. Fans don’t always have to agree so you think they will be sensible, but I don’t like it.

“I think six months after winning a league title, I think it’s a little disrespectful, almost like they think he hasn’t got a clue what he’s doing.”