Jurgen Klopp verdict offered as Arne Slot under ‘load of pressure’ at Liverpool – pundit
Arne Slot deserves more time to turn Liverpool’s fortunes around as questions start to be asked of his managerial position after five consecutive Premier League defeats.
That is according to Premier League legend Matt Le Tissier, who has exclusively told Football Insider that Liverpool must draw upon their previous history of sticking by Jurgen Klopp through tough periods as the barometer for Slot’s future in charge.
Liverpool looked all set to attack the Premier League with intent again this season after an expensive summer that saw the British transfer record broken twice for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
Their performances have not been up to standard at all so far though, and after numerous late goals masked their frailties in the first few games, the Reds have seriously struggled to win in recent weeks.
Slot’s side have won just one of their last six games, with four losses in their last four league outings to plunge his future at the helm into doubt just five months after winning the title.
Slot’s job is safe despite poor Liverpool form
Liverpool were beaten 3-2 by Brentford in West London on Saturday as their defensive shortcomings were exacerbated by the hosts’ impressive set-piece and counter-attack tactics.
Football Insider revealed after that loss that Slot is not under internal pressure at Liverpool as he has plenty of credit in the bank, but doubts have started to creep in from fans and the media.
Things clearly need to change quickly, and the Reds have a tough run of fixtures on the horizon with Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Real Madrid and Man City all to come in the next two weeks.
Le Tissier has previously told Football Insider that he thinks Liverpool are not in the title race anymore, but he thinks they should back Slot due to what he has already achieved at the club.
Slot would be ‘sacked’ if he was Nottingham Forest manager
Legendary Reds boss Klopp oversaw an eighth-placed finish in his first season in charge at the club, and did not win a trophy until his fourth campaign at the helm.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former England and Southampton striker Le Tissier backed Liverpool to stick by Slot, as they did with his predecessor, through a rough patch of form rather than sacking him anytime soon.
He said: “Obviously if it continues in this vein then he (Slot) will come under pressure, but I think what he did last season means he’s bought himself a little bit of time to be able to have a rough patch and get away with it.
“I mean, for instance, if he was at Nottingham Forest and he’d lost five out of six games, he’d probably be on his bike by now, but I don’t think that’s the case at Liverpool.
“When you look back, even Jurgen Klopp in his first season wasn’t great. Questions were being asked of him early on, and just look what he went on to achieve.
“I think Slot’s bought himself quite a bit of time in terms of that. But, you know, five out of six defeats…if that goes to eight out of nine defeats, then you’re going to start seeing a real load of pressure come on him.“