‘Really Dire’—Steven Gerrard Offers Arne Slot Sack Verdict

Arne Slot is in the firing line for Liverpool’s woeful season.

Steven Gerrard has weighed in on the Arne Slot debate. | Paul Bonser/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Stuart Franklin-UEFA/Getty Images

Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard believes Arne Slot deserves more time to turn things around at Anfield, despite the club’s “really dire” performances for much of the season.

The Reds have endured a disastrous campaign following their record summer spend, consistently underwhelming displays and terrible Premier League form having piled pressure on Slot despite the Dutchman winning the title in his debut year.

There have been widespread calls among Liverpool supporters for the club to sack the ex-Feyenoord coach, but Gerrard has issued caution over parting ways with a manger that helped the Reds clinch only their second ever Premier League trophy.

“He has [got credit in the bank] with me because more than anyone on the planet, I know how difficult it is to win a league,” Gerrard told the Stick to Football podcast. “And for him to come in and win a league in his first season, being asked questions in the media a long time, what do you think, does it need to change and blah, blah, blah ... He’s got a lot more credit with me.

Liverpool have been far too easy to beat this season. | Hakan Akgun/Anadolu/Getty Images

“You know how difficult it is. Jamie [Carragher] will tell you, the Liverpool demand, they expect to win it every year. So I think he needs the opportunity to sort of play himself out of trouble and fix the issues and try and get himself back in a good place.”

The 45-year-old added: “I think someone who’s won a league deserves at least a full season to try and get out of the problems and the issues that they’ve got.

“I’m certainly one of those people, but I have to understand what the fans are saying as well, because it has been dire in certain games and performances. Really dire.”

---

Decisive Week for Slot’s Future Approaches

Liverpool’s season could be all but over by mid-April. | Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar/Getty Images

Liverpool supporters will pray that the March international break has offered a reset opportunity for the Reds, who were beaten by Brighton & Hove Albion just before club football’s hiatus.

The need for a swift recovery is made all the more significant by Liverpool’s schedule. A crucial week lies in wait and one that could decide Slot’s future.

Liverpool kick off by visiting Manchester City in an FA Cup quarterfinal on Saturday. Defeat at the Etihad Stadium eliminates another route to silverware, and the Reds then travel to reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie.

As Liverpool know all too well from last season, PSG are a formidable foe, and a hefty defeat at the Parc des Princes would leave Slot’s side on the precipice.

The Reds then host Fulham next weekend in the Premier League as they seek to get their Champions League qualification bid back on track. While they’re currently fifth—almost certainly enough to reach Europe’s premier competition—alarming inconsistency means there are no guarantees Liverpool finish in the Champions League spots.

A difficult week on the field would have major ramifications for Slot’s future as the pressure mounts.

---