'No Plans' for Mid-Season Axe

Arne Slot is facing growing calls to be dismissed as Liverpool’s head coach, but it is reliably reported that owners Fenway Sports Group still back the Dutchman.

Slot was booed as he went down the Anfield tunnel on Saturday, with those who had paid to witness a 1-1 draw with Burnley making clear their frustrations.

Despite Liverpool extending their unbeaten run to 12 games it has been a far-from-convincing stretch of performances which includes draws in each of their last four Premier League fixtures.

With accusations of boring football and the looming spectre of Xabi Alonso now emerging, Slot is subject to intense speculation over his future.

But according to The Athletic‘s James Pearce, Slot “retains the backing of FSG” who have “no plans” to dismiss their head coach mid-season like Man United and Chelsea.

However it is maintained that this is a situation which cannot continue, particularly as Alonso is now available following his departure from Real Madrid.

“It’s unclear when or where Alonso will look to embark on a new challenge but with every setback Liverpool endure, the noise will crank up,” Pearce writes.

“Slot can only silence it by finding solutions to the problems facing him.”

To put it succinctly, Pearce added: “The clock is ticking. Slot stopped the rot before Christmas, but this remains the most unconvincing of resurgences.”

Have Liverpool owners FSG sacked managers before?

FSG have previous for sacking managers mid-season, of course, having dismissed Roy Hodgson in January 2011 and Brendan Rodgers in October 2015 – albeit the former having been appointed by their predecessors.

The decision to relieve Rodgers of his duties came after just four wins in 11 games at the start of his fourth season in charge, but having also finished sixth in the Premier League in the previous campaign.

At the time there was also a standout candidate to replace him, with Jurgen Klopp confirmed as Liverpool manager four days later.

Slot clearly has credit in the bank after winning the Premier League title in his first season in charge, while it cannot be overlooked that this has been a uniquely challenging time following the tragic death of Diogo Jota.

However the problems unfolding on the pitch cannot be ignored, and though a top-four finish is viewed as priority, so too should the style of play employed.

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