Liverpool boss Arne Slot told he's been 'thrown under the bus' by senior players

It has been claimed Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been 'thrown under the bus' by some of his senior stars amid growing uncertainty around the Dutchman's future on Merseyside

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

Arne Slot has been "thrown under the bus" by some of his senior Liverpool players amid uncertainty surrounding his future on Merseyside.

Having enjoyed a superb debut season as Liverpool boss last term, which saw him guide the Reds to the Premier League title, Slot's second year in charge has been an abject disappointment. Over the summer, Liverpool forked out huge sums for the likes of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and Florian Wirtz, moves which signaled the club's intent to dominate the Premier League for years to come under Slot.

However, Liverpool's 2025/26 campaign has unraveled fast. With the Premier League returning this weekend, Liverpool currently sits 21 points behind league leaders Arsenal. They were also embarrassingly dumped out of the FA Cup, 4-0 by Manchester City, with captain Virgil van Dijk admitting he and his teammates 'gave up" in the second half.

While Liverpool could still win the Champions League, they would need to overcome Paris Saint-Germain in the quarterfinals of Europe's elite club competition to advance.

Liverpool's performances this season have raised questions about Slot's future on Merseyside, with Xabi Alonso mooted as a target for the Reds this summer should they choose to move on from the Dutchman at the end of the 2025/26 campaign.

Virgil van Dijk admitted Liverpool's players 'gave up' against Manchester City(Image: Getty Images)

However, former Manchester United scout Mick Brown believes that while Slot deserves plenty of blame for how Liverpool's season has unraveled, some of the blame on Merseyside must also be laid at the feet of his players.

Speaking to Football Insider, Brown singled out the likes of Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Ibrahima Konate as players whose levels have dropped off significantly this season, with the ex-Man United scout believing their performances have thrown the Liverpool boss under the bus this term.

"Slot has been thrown under the bus at Liverpool," said Brown.

Mohamed Salah looks dejected during the FA Cup game between Man City and Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside via Getty Images)

"Look through the squad, how many of them can you say have really performed to their top level? But it’s the manager who picks up the bill for it. He’s been badly let down by a number of his senior players.

"Van Dijk has got a brilliant reputation which has been well-earned, but he hasn’t performed anywhere close to his usual standard this season. Salah as well, we’ve spoken about him a number of times and the fact he’s dropped off.

Xabi Alonso has been linked with a return to Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

He added, "Then looking through the team, you’ve got players like Ibrahima Konate for example who again has been nowhere near the level required of him.

"So all of these things start to add up, but eventually it’s the manager who has to deal with it when results aren’t going their way.

"If Slot does get sacked by Liverpool, the players are just as much to blame as anything else.”