FSG stance on Arne Slot clear as Liverpool summer's plans emerge

Arne Slot remains fully supported by Liverpool owners FSG despite a difficult second season at Anfield, with the club planning major summer signings to strengthen the squad

Arne Slot has struggled at Anfield this season(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Arne Slot continues to have the full backing of Liverpool's top brass despite a less-than-stellar season at the helm at Anfield. The Dutchman clinched the Premier League title in his maiden campaign but has struggled to replicate that form this year.

Despite a summer outlay of £446 million ($589M), the Reds currently occupy fifth place in the Premier League standings and have yet to reach the lofty heights of last season. High-profile signings such as Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, and Alexander Isak raised hopes last summer, but the club has underperformed in the league.

Slot has faced increasing scrutiny, with speculation about his future at Anfield surfacing in some circles due to the struggles of the current season. However, the Fenway Sports Group remains fully supportive of the Dutchman, believing he has been "dealt a difficult hand" over the course of the current campaign.

The Athletic reports that the tragic loss of Diogo Jota in the summer deeply affected the entire club.

The report also suggests that the Liverpool hierarchy felt Slot's management of the heart-wrenching situation demonstrated "great leadership" and helped maintain squad unity throughout.

Significant injuries to players such as Isak, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni have also been factored in. This has been combined with a drop in form from crucial figures including Alexis Mac Allister and the outgoing Mohamed Salah.

The club's decision-makers continue to back Slot and are confident he can reverse the situation. FSG believes that with additional signings in the summer, the 47-year-old can return to delivering silverware, much like his predecessor Jurgen Klopp did in the 2023/24 campaign.

The Dutchman retains full backing from the club(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Despite demands for Slot's dismissal, FSG are not planning to make a major decision and "start again" next season. The report adds that Liverpool's hierarchy doesn't consider the Dutchman to be "effectively on trial" until the end of the season and have not set any particular targets for him to remain at Anfield.

Club legend Steven Gerrard shares the same view and believes Slot needs more time to address the issues within the squad.

Speaking on the Overlap, when asked if Slot's position remains secure, the 45-year-old said: "He has with me because I know more than anyone on the planet how difficult it is to win a league, and for him to come in and win a league, in his first season, he's got a lot more credit with me.

"Jamie will tell you, Liverpool will demand, they expect to win it every year. I think he needs the opportunity to play his way out of trouble and fix the issues and try and get himself back in a good place.

Steven Gerrard also believes Slot deserves more time(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

"I think he did during that period a few months ago where they'd lost nine out of 12 and then they went on a run where he took them from 12th to fourth in the league. I think someone who has won a league deserves at least a full season to try and get out of the problems and issues that they've got, I'm certainly one of them.

"But, I have to understand what the fans are saying as well, because it has been dire on certain games and performances."

A victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-final this weekend could win back a lot of support from the fans. The Reds will journey to the Etihad Stadium to take on Pep Guardiola's team and could shatter their hopes of a domestic double with a first win against them this season.