Arsenal legend deeply concerned for Arne Slot's job at Liverpool

Alan Smith believes Liverpool manager Arne Slot's job security could be at risk if the Reds fail to secure Champions League qualification and don't win silverware this season

Arne Slot is under immense pressure at Liverpool(Image: David Rogers, Getty Images)

Arne Slot's position could come under scrutiny if Liverpool fails to secure a top-five finish and end the season without silverware. That's the view of an Arsenal legend.

Slot enjoyed a remarkable first season in charge at Anfield following Jurgen Klopp's departure. He guided the Reds to the Premier League title and after a summer transfer splurge that saw the club spend over £400M ($533.5M) on new players, while generating more than £200M ($266.73M) from sales, there was optimism they could retain their crown.

Instead, Liverpool is embroiled in a tense battle to qualify for the Champions League. Its 2-1 defeat at bottom-placed Wolves on Tuesday evening leaves them currently in sixth place, trailing fifth-placed Chelsea on goal difference and sitting three points adrift of Manchester United and Aston Villa in third and fourth respectively.

The Reds return to Molineux to take on Wolves for the second time in three days this evening when the teans meet in the FA Cup fifth round.

The FA Cup represents one of two competitions Slot's team can still win. On Tuesday, they travel to Istanbul to face Galatasaray in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie.

While Liverpool suffered a 1-0 defeat to the Turkish side during the league phase of Europe's elite club competition earlier this season, it remains the favorite to advance to the quarterfinals, where either Chelsea or holders Paris Saint-Germain would await. Looking beyond that, a semifinal tie against Manchester City, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich appears probable.

This is why Alan Smith, who won two league titles with Arsenal and now works as a co-commentator and pundit for Sky Sports, doubts the Reds will claim a seventh Champions League triumph.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot reacts after his side's 2-1 Premier League loss at Wolves on Tuesday(Image: AP)

He suggests Slot may need to deliver a ninth FA Cup title, should they fail to secure a top-five finish, to avoid losing his job.

"I don't think they're going to win the Champions League," the two-time Golden Boot winner wrote in his latest column for BestBettingSites.co.uk.

"(They were) So poor on Tuesday against Wolves. I thought they'd maybe turned a corner. But a lot to solve there. It (the FA Cup) is their best chance at silverware, so we'll see how they get on. Can they achieve a bit of revenge after being so poor?

"Slot will be under pressure. There's no question. If they don't finish in the Champions League spot, given the money that they've spent, you can talk about injuries and all that all you like, he'll be under big pressure.

"I mean, historically, Liverpool haven't been a sacking club. They've been loyal to the manager. Has that changed now with time, given how football is?

"I think he'd be worried for his job if they finish out of the top five and don't win anything."

Last month, Slot conceded that it would be "unacceptable" if the Reds failed to secure a spot in next season's Champions League.

"Yes, if we don't have Champions League football, it is definitely not been an acceptable season," he stated.

"The season I arrived here, we could only sign Federico Chiesa and that was after a Europa League season. So it does have an enormous impact on the way this club is run. So I'm completely aware of that."

Following the defeat to Wolves on Tuesday, Captain Virgil van Dijk commented: "The stakes are very high. Listen, if you play for Liverpool, it's always been like that. It's down to us, together with our fans, to get the results we need to get into the Champions League.

"We're also still playing in the Champions League and the FA Cup this season and trying to make it successful. Now the decisive period starts. We have to just go for it. We have to take this on the chin. No matter how hard it is to take."