Right now, Liverpool face a real battle to make their way back into the Champions League next season via their Premier League position. It comes hot on the heels of their title triumph last year, which coincided with Arne Slot’s first campaign in charge of the Reds.
Winning a Premier League title in front of fans is something that Jurgen Klopp never accomplished during his many years as Reds boss. While he did have one to his name, they only got over the finish line during the height of the pandemic. That obviously isn’t his fault, but it also took him a good few years longer before he reached that pinnacle.
The pressure rises
As a result of their failures this season, a lot of people have been calling for Slot’s head. The big problem that seems to arise every time, though, is that the focus is shifting away from any potential failings that the players have had, and straight onto the head of the manager.
Sure, he could make some better tactical decisions to help the team throughout the course of a match, but his record in the Champions League alone proves that the Reds are still operating at a higher level than most.
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As for the Slot issue, it definitely feels like this serves as more proof that Liverpool fans need a manager that they consider to be ‘one of their own’. The personality factor has always been important for those from the red half of Merseyside, mainly because so many of their previous head coaches have resonated with the way in which the fanbase views not only football, but the world.
Time for perspective
Slot is a manager who keeps his cards close to his chest and likes to focus on what’s happening on the pitch. He’s defiant, and he isn’t going to bend to the supporters. Klopp was a larger than life figure who could often get away with really poor results or entire seasons, whether it be because Manchester City were on fire at the time or because he had built up such good will with the Anfield faithful.
Jurgen was certainly responsible for getting the club back to a position of prominence on the European and English stage, and maybe some see Slot as someone who has simply inherited that good fortune. Alas, it was Arne who won a league title in his first year, and it was Arne who had to deal with the immense pressure that was always going to come with replacing Klopp.
If they go on a massive losing streak between now and the end of May, then yes, questions will have to be asked, but pressing the panic button at this point in time feels like it could really set Liverpool back.
