Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) intend to keep faith with Arne Slot despite the Reds’ poor season and the availability of Xabi Alonso.
That’s according to the latest information from James Pearce, who’s been addressing queries from LFC supporters in a Q&A for The Athletic ahead of what could be a pivotal summer for the Merseyside club both on and off the pitch.
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The Dutchman has come under intense scrutiny over the past few months, with several ex-Liverpool players questioning whether he’s the right man for the job. His cause hasn’t been helped by Xabi Alonso’s sacking at Real Madrid in January, since which there’s been constant speculation linking our former midfielder with a return to Anfield in a coaching capacity.
Pearce: FSG set to stick with Slot for now
Replying to one question as to whether the Spaniard would be ‘the perfect fit’ to take over from Slot, Pearce outlined: ‘Currently, everything points to owner Fenway Sports Group sticking with Slot.
‘If that position changes then Alonso would be a strong contender, but contacts I’ve spoken to say there’s a misconception that the Spaniard was Liverpool’s first choice after Klopp stepped down two years ago.
‘They insist that Alonso wasn’t seriously considered because he had already made it clear he would be staying at Leverkusen for another season. Slot consistently came out on top in the different metrics Liverpool used in their data-led search for Klopp’s successor.’
The journalist added that, while Alonso ‘has a close bond with Liverpool and supporters’, his coaching CV isn’t as rich as that of Jurgen Klopp when he took over from Brendan Rodgers in 2015, which was described as a ‘no-brainer’ of an appointment and a ‘massive coup’.
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Slot set to remain, but so does the spectre of Alonso
Considering just how horribly Liverpool had been struggling at times this season (late autumn and either side of the most recent international break come to mind), there’s a sense that FSG may well have pulled the trigger on Slot then, if they were so inclined.
A post-Easter improvement looks set to take us into the Champions League for next term, but many supporters remain unconvinced by the Dutchman, who’s had to deal with extremely tough circumstances outside his control.
He hasn’t been helped by several long-term injuries to key players, and there’s no manual to advise on how to cope with the tragic loss of Diogo Jota last July, but it’d also be fair to say that the 47-year-old should be getting much more out of the squad at his disposal.
There’s a fear among some Liverpool fans that, if FSG don’t move for Alonso now, they risk missing the boat on him and seeing him join another leading European club instead – maybe even a direct Premier League rival.
Unless our results completely deteriorate this month and we somehow contrive to blow Champions League qualification, the direction of travel seems very much towards Slot remaining in charge for the start of next season.
However, the spectre of the ex-Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss will remain whilst he’s still available for work.
Slot OUT!!!!
Hughes OUT!!!
Edwards OUT!!!
FSG OUT!!!!
End this clown show!!!!
His training and tactics though are quite crappy. What was won was by a team built by Jurgen and Slot has detroyed that mainly because he wanted his own team which was quite understandable.
Slot’s mentality is the problem. Way too passive. When he went on vacation before the end of the season, it sent a bad message and led into the rest of that season and this season.
Liverpools recruitment has been dreadful and the holes left in the squad due to lack of depth is negligent! Slot has been thrown under the bus by the suits but he certainly hasn’t helped himself with the awful football that’s been served up this season. The fans will get behind him if he stays but I can’t see us being much better next season.
I wouldn’t have alonso he had his chance and blew it went to real
So what happens next season under slot?
Alisson, Robertson and Salah are about to depart these players need replacing.
We won’t get 450 million to spend this summer but when you look at the current squad that’s the kind of money we need to rebuild it. Sell to buy under charlatan owners FSG makes it harder for any Liverpool manager.
Then there’s the defence?
We can’t defend set pieces or when we get hit on the counter attack.
Brian clough once said that a great team is built on a solid reliable defence . Clean sheets a foundation of success , rather than relying on high scoring chaotic matches.
Alex Ferguson Attack wins you games , defence wins you titles.
Klopps team that won the premier league had the best defensive record count the clean sheets that season.
PSG who play outstanding attacking football are in the final because they can defend as well. The work rate and organisation without the ball the other night against Bayern Munich you wont see much better.
How is slot going to sort out the defence. We won’t get anywhere until we can defend.
I think slot will limp on until next October then he’ll be sacked. By then the damage will be done.
Much harder for the next manager to turn it around.
You can write off next season right now with slot.
It is sick to see a great team going into decline like this and the owners actually let it happen.
Slot has done well with the cards he has been dealt. Give him more rope