Graeme Souness refuses to answer Arne Slot ultimatum about Liverpool future

Liverpool boss Arne Slot continues to be under pressure surrounding his future at Anfield, following a difficult season so far in the Premier League and plenty of options available in the summer.

Graeme Souness has refused to discuss Arne Slot's future at Liverpool(Image: (Photo by Greig Cowie/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images))

Former Liverpool captain and manager Graeme Souness has refused to answer whether Arne Slot will be the head coach next season amid growing pressure surrounding his position at the club.

The Reds have been far from their clinical best this campaign, having come off the back of winning the Premier League title in Slot's debut season in the league. They currently sit sixth in the division, with the aim of qualifying for the Champions League next season, while they remain in the European competition as well as the FA Cup.

That difference in consistency between the two seasons has brought forward questions about Slot's future, especially given the managerial shuffle that is set to ensue in the summer. For Souness, there was no interest in answering a question on the manager, but he is certain that things must turn around soon.

He was asked by TalkSPORT whether Slot had to win the Champions League to keep his job, and he said: "I won’t answer that one. I just know that they have to improve."

On the job of the Dutchman so far, Souness added: "He had a glorious year last year. You don't get a job normally as a football manager with a club going well, but that was one of the rare occasions where he walked into Anfield and inherited a great, great situation.

"I don't think it changed too much looking at last year from my eyes and this year you can bet he has done everything the same, starting training at the same time using the same words, using the same training methods and preparation for games. It's not happened. So he'll be scratching his head saying why have they dropped off so much."

Arne Slot has been under pressure at Liverpool(Image: (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images))

When quizzed again about possibly replacing the manager, he said: "I’m not going to get into that. I know what you want me to say. think Liverpool is a great football club and historically they give the managers lots and lots of time to get it right"

Liverpool has traditionally given time to managers and Slot seems to be no different, given the difficult times that the manager has already survived through this season. That hasn't just been on the pitch, where performances have been inconsistent, but in dealing with off the pitch matters such as injuries and new personnel.

The 47-year-old is set to reach the 100 match mark with Liverpool in the clash against Galatasaray in the Champions League. That, Slot says, is a landmark that makes him "proud", as he explained to the media before the match.

"First of all, it makes me really proud that I become the Liverpool manager and that it is going to be my 100th game," he said. "I don't think I have a bad track record in those 100 games... although sometimes, you get a different feeling about that if I have to listen to everything!"

Slot has won 62 of his 99 matches in charge so far, with 15 draws and 22 defeats rounding off his record in the dugout. Despite clearly hinting at the pressure and noise from outside the club, the head coach continued to state just how proud a moment his 100th match in charge will be.

"But it makes me proud and it's nice that the 100th game is such a nice game to play – Champions League last 16, away game against Galatasaray. As always, it's never about the manager, it's always about the players. I'll try to prepare them just as good as all the other 99 games I've done before.

"But it's always the players who have to then perform and I've been very lucky that I've been given a very good team in both seasons, last season and this season. I have all the trust that these players will perform at the levels that we are used to from a Liverpool team."

While it remains to be seen whether Slot will manage many games beyond that 100 mark, given the pressure that continues to circle, he certainly has the tools to continue proving why he is in that position. With two cup competitions left to fight for, alongside European qualification, there's plenty left for the Reds to invest into for the rest of the season.