Arne Slot given clear task if he wants to save Liverpool job as patience wearing thin

Arne Slot is coming under increasing pressure at Liverpool, and FSG's expectations are clear as the Dutchman has been given a clear target to meet which could save his job

Arne Slot is coming under increasing pressure at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Arne Slot’s biggest task is clear if he’s to save his job at Liverpool — he must get his side into next season’s Champions League.

The pressure is mounting on the Reds’ boss after yet another poor result at the weekend, with his team crashing out of the FA Cup after a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City.

It was the worst possible start to what is a decisive couple of months for Liverpool, with the Reds’ hopes of salvaging something from what has been a dismal season looking more and more remote, and Slot’s future potentially hanging on European qualification.

According to The Athletic, the Dutchman’s fate was never going to be decided by Liverpool’s progress in the FA Cup.

It’s claimed that FSG’s stance on the domestic cup competitions has never changed during their time in charge at Anfield, and that Champions League qualification is seen as being far more important, given the revenue that it generates.

Liverpool remains in the hunt for a spot at Europe’s top table for next season, although there is still a lot of work to be done to secure qualification. As the report puts it, it’s “Champions League or bust”.

Arne Slot needs to get Liverpool into next season's Champions League(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

The Reds face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their quarter-final on Wednesday, with expectations among supporters likely to be low after Saturday’s thrashing by City.

But, while winning a seventh European crown looks like a long shot, it is a route into next season’s competition, and one that Slot and Liverpool may need to rely on.

Qualification via their finish in the Premier League is still very much on, with the Reds currently sitting fifth, which looks as though it will be enough if, as expected, England receives another Champions League spot.

Given recent performances though, there won’t be an awful lot of confidence that Slot’s side can finish the job, and he may well find himself coming under pressure.

Although Slot has retained the support of those inside Anfield recently, the first murmurs of discontent are beginning to creep in, and as pointed out by The Athletic, although the FA Cup defeat won’t decide his future, the manner of the defeat will send alarm bells.

Already, a lot of Liverpool fans look to have lost patience. Having booed their side after the draw at home to Tottenham, there was more discontent at City on Saturday as a large number left the Etihad Stadium early.

What’s more, Xabi Alonso — who is the favorite to take over should Slot be dismissed — had his name sung by those leaving, and those that stayed were confronted by an angry Dominik Szoboszlai as they made their feelings known.

Slot then has a lot of work to do if he is to win back some of that support, and his job may well be riding on Liverpool’s European fate.