Liverpool’s updated stance on Arne Slot revealed after ‘players downed tools’
Liverpool’s board are hoping that they do not have to sack Arne Slot despite their recent struggles, sources have told Football Insider.
The Reds had lost five of their last six Premier League games prior to last weekend, when they secured an invaluable 2-0 victory away at West Ham.
Alexander Isak scored the opener for Liverpool at the London Stadium with his first goal since September, before Cody Gakpo settled the game in stoppage time.
Slot has been coming under ever-increasing pressure from the fanbase in recent weeks, but sources have indicated that the club hierarchy are firmly against dismissing the Dutchman after what he achieved last season.
Arne Slot has credit in the bank at Liverpool
There have been recent suggestions that Liverpool’s players may have downed tools under Slot, but there was little evidence of that in their win at the weekend.
The Merseysiders secured their first clean sheet since 4 November at the London Stadium, which could prove to be invaluable given their recent issues at the back.
Sources say Liverpool’s board are hopeful that the West Ham victory can provide the springboard for the team to begin climbing the Premier League table, as they want to give Slot the benefit of the doubt despite the vast sums spent on new signings in a record-breaking summer window.
He led them to the league title last season, and as such, is deemed to still have enough credit in the bank to survive the recent struggles.
There is no intention for the 47-year-old to be moved on, provided that the improvement that is anticipated does ultimately arrive in the coming weeks.
Liverpool board to back Slot with signing of player he knows well
Football Insider recently revealed that Liverpool are plotting a £25million move for Kees Smit, who has caught the eye for AZ Alkmaar this season.
Smit is enjoying a breakout campaign in the Eredivisie, and a deal at that price would represent a club-record fee for Alkmaar, who have seen the midfielder grow through their ranks in recent years.
Slot will already be familiar with the 19-year-old, who will have been playing with the Dutch outfit’s age-group sides while he was working with the first team from 2017 to 2020.
The Merseysiders’ board are not keen to turn their back on their title-winning boss just yet, and could even be about to strengthen his hand further in January.