5 hours ago
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It's fair to say the 2025-26 season is not going well for Liverpool.
The Reds came into the campaign as the favorites to win the Premier League title following their success last season and summer investment, spending around $600 million on fresh talent. Yet the season isn't going well for Arne Slot and his players, who have lost six of their last seven Premier League games to slip out of title contention.
More pressure was heaped onto Slot on Saturday following Liverpool's shock 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, a team that started the weekend in the Premier League's relegation zone. Here's everything we know about Slot's future at Anfield...
Growing crisis
Liverpool's campaign has reached a troubling nadir after the embarrassing home defeat to Forest, plunging the club into crisis. Slot has declined to offer excuses for the "woeful" display, explicitly acknowledging that he bears full responsibility for the side's struggles.
Despite mounting pressure, he remains resolute, maintaining that the squad possesses the quality to discover a "way out" of this downturn.
Commentary from pundits, including former midfielder Danny Murphy, indicates that Slot must now make "huge decisions" to salvage his position, which could include benching underperforming senior players. The prevailing view is that the boss needs to revitalize a complacent squad that is struggling to match the intensity of its previous title-winning season.
Among these pundits is Wayne Rooney, who believes that Slot must drop Mohamed Salah in order to get his team back on form. He thinks that the forward is not helping them defensively, and they would improve if Slot changes his starting line-up.
The loss to Forest revealed serious problems on the pitch, as Liverpool controlled the first half-hour before falling apart following the opening goal. Slot acknowledged his in-game tactical changes didn't work, with the side struggling to fashion genuine opportunities or unlock the opposition defence.
Job security
Views on Slot's position remain split, with pundits like Martin Keown suggesting it would be "unthinkable" to dismiss him shortly after securing the title.
Conversely, others, including former Premier League defender Ashley Williams, are now publicly questioning whether the Dutchman possesses the ability to turn things around as the team's form continues to deteriorate.
Potential successors
The uncertainty has sparked frenzied speculation in betting circles, with odds plummeting dramatically on former boss Jurgen Klopp staging a remarkable return to Anfield.
This sentiment-fuelled narrative has made Klopp the surprise bookmakers' favorite to succeed his replacement, although a comeback to Anfield remains highly improbable.
Apart from Klopp, betting markets have highlighted other potential successors currently in charge at rival Premier League sides.
Odds have shortened considerably for Unai Emery and Andoni Iraola, indicating they're considered the leading alternatives should the Anfield hot seat become available.
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