Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) are facing a dilemma over head coach Arne Slot’s future after a significant decline and rising fan discontent. Many Liverpool fans have reportedly lost faith in Slot a year after he led them to the Premier League title in his first season in charge.
Echoes of the Rodgers Era
The situation echoes 2015 when Brendan Rodgers faced similar pressure. Rodgers, unlike Slot, didn’t have a Premier League title to his name, but suffered the same fate among Liverpool’s fanbase after a 6-1 loss at Stoke City. That season ended with Liverpool finishing sixth, 25 points behind champions Chelsea.
FSG, led by John W Henry and Tom Werner, opted to stick with Rodgers, but reshaped his backroom staff. Rodgers was then backed with funds to sign players including Christian Benteke from Aston Villa for £32.5m and Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim for £29m, while recouping £49m from the sale of Raheem Sterling to Manchester City.
However, the changes didn’t pay off, and Rodgers was sacked in early October and replaced by Jurgen Klopp. This marked the beginning of a successful period where Liverpool won the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League title the following year.
The Question Now Facing FSG
FSG must now decide whether to keep faith with Slot, who was backed with a £450m transfer outlay last summer, or make a fresh start. Currently, there are no indications that FSG are planning to part with Slot. However, Liverpool supporters are making their feelings known, and a 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea was played out in a toxic atmosphere.
Alonso Waiting in the Wings?
Former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso is being mentioned as a potential replacement. Alonso, a popular figure with the fans, won the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen before a short spell in the dysfunction of Real Madrid.
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes Slot’s departure is now a question of when, not if, given the increasing discontent. Murphy revealed he was interviewed by Rodgers for a role in his reshaped coaching team, a job that eventually went to Gary McAllister.
Murphy said: “Slot has won a title, which Brendan didn’t do, so on the surface it would make more sense to stick with him, and I do 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…