Liverpool boss Arne Slot is under increasing pressure at Anfield after the Reds suffered a 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest and slumped to 11th in the Premier League table
Liverpool manager Arne Slot is under mounting scrutiny following the Reds’ latest setback on Saturday.
The 47-year-old Dutchman had enjoyed a fairy-tale debut season at Anfield after taking over from Jurgen Klopp, steering Liverpool to a Premier League triumph and a record equalling 20th top flight title for England’s most successful football club. But the ex-Feyenoord chief has faced a torrid beginning to the 2025-26 season.
A devastating 3-0 home reverse against Nottingham Forest has intensified doubts about his long-term prospects in the role. The situation becomes even more damaging given Liverpool’s massive £450million summer outlay on squad reinforcements.
Saturday’s humbling extended the Merseysiders’ alarming streak this term to six losses in their previous seven outings across all tournaments. Here’s all the latest news from Anfield.
Slot dismissal verdict
Pressure is inevitably mounting on Slot. Nevertheless, two respected analysts cannot envisage the Dutchman receiving his marching orders just one campaign after delivering silverware to Anfield, reports the Mirror.
Ex-Arsenal centre-back Martin Keown and former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp agree that Slot will not face the axe from Liverpool’s hierarchy at this stage.
Keown told Final Score after the game on Saturday: “We have to give credit to Forest for what they are doing but yes, the wheels are coming off now for Arne Slot.
“Obviously, it was Jurgen Klopp’s team, and he has tried to come in and make changes, but he has spent £450million on players, and they are going backwards. They have simply been undone. Whether it’s a crisis I don’t know, it’s certainly a major problem for the manager to go six defeats from seven. Unthinkable.
“I don’t think you can win the league one year and get sacked the next,” the former Arsenal defender added. “It’s remarkable what we are seeing with Liverpool. Their fall from grace and to lose this many games at the start of the season, they are eight points behind top spot, it is unthinkable really from this time last season.”
Redknapp shared similar views on Sky Sports following Forest’s triumph. He commented: “I look at Liverpool now, this is what I expected to happen last season.
“After Jurgen Klopp leaving the club I thought it would have some negative effect on the team. There wasn’t. They did something absolutely extraordinary and won the league.
“Right now, I think it’s a time for patience because they’ll be people, pundits, everyone going crazy, [saying] ‘Sack the manager’. [Be] calm, take your time, make sure you assess it, it’s been the most difficult pre-season you can imagine for those players.”
Klopp tipped as favourite for comeback
The mounting pressure on Slot could be intensified by the lingering shadow of former Reds legend Klopp.
The German maestro currently tops the bookmakers’ list to succeed the Dutchman should Liverpool’s hierarchy decide to axe Slot from his position.
Klopp stands at odds as short as 2/1 to become Liverpool’s next manager according to Sky Bet and Paddy Power, while other candidates include Crystal Palace chief Oliver Glasner.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, Aston Villa’s Unai Emery and Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann also feature among the contenders, per the betting firms.
However, despite Klopp leading the market, there’s currently no indication that Liverpool’s ownership are considering a managerial switch.
Klopp’s remarks about a potential Anfield comeback in October sparked considerable controversy. During an appearance on the Diary of a CEO podcast, when asked about a possible return, he stated: “I said I would never coach a different team in England. So that means if, (I did return to England) then it’s Liverpool. Yeah, theoretically it’s possible.”
When pressed on what circumstances might tempt him back to Anfield, he responded: “I don’t even know exactly. I love what I do now. I don’t miss coaching. I don’t. I do coach but it’s just different, it’s not players.
“I don’t want to die in the dressing room. It’s these kind of things. I’m 58. From your perspective that might be old, but from other perspectives, it’s not that old.
“That means I could make a decision in a few years. I don’t know. Do I have to make a decision today? I will not coach again, but thank God I do not have to do that, I can just see what the future brings.”
The legendary ex-Reds gaffer has since taken up the mantle of Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull’s football division and recently joined an advisory panel for the German Football League (DFL).
He also voiced his support for Slot, stating: “He’s a super good guy. He got the best out of this team, and they became champions in an incredible manner.”
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