Liverpool secured a 1-0 victory against Sunderland yesterday, thanks to a goal from Virgil van Dijk, yet things are far from perfect for The Reds. Could Arne Slot face dismissal soon? According to the BBC, the answer to that question is ‘no’.
In England, this has been reported as ‘breaking news,’ as there’s been ongoing speculation week after week about the Dutchman’s potential departure. It’s not surprising, given the current standings: Liverpool sits sixth in the Premier League with 42 points from 26 matches (twelve wins, six draws, and eight losses).
The league leaders, Arsenal, are already fourteen points ahead of Slot’s squad and are considered out of reach. Even a team like Aston Villa, positioned third, maintains an eight-point gap over them.
However, the BBC reports that any talk of Slot’s dismissal is premature. The outlet notes, “To put it plainly, these numbers simply aren’t good enough for the reigning champions, especially considering the 450 million pounds they spent this summer. Slot himself acknowledged this when he stated that failing to qualify for the Champions League would be unacceptable.”
Despite this, the former Feyenoord coach still holds a significant level of trust at Anfield Road: “When it comes to Slot, his track record speaks volumes. The 47-year-old manager is, along with Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp, one of the only coaches to have claimed the Premier League title since the 2017-2018 season.”
Furthermore: “Liverpool is traditionally not a club that quickly dismisses managers, and there is confidence that the board at Anfield fully supports Slot, at least until the end of the season.”