Arne Slot, Not Long Adored, Now Faces Dismissal

Less than a year after leading Liverpool to the English Premier League title, Arne Slot's fate now hangs by a thread. An embarrassing result in the form of a 1-4 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League match at Anfield on Thursday (27/11/2025) has put him at risk of being dismissed.

The poor result follows a second consecutive defeat at home after being trounced by Nottingham Forest, 0-3, in the English League. The result against PSV marks the ninth loss in the last 12 matches, putting increasing pressure on the Dutch coach.

Moreover, the poor results this season came after Liverpool's massive player spending during the summer transfer window. Several weaknesses of Liverpool were brutally exposed during the match against PSV.

Liverpool fell behind first due to a penalty from Ivan Perisic. The equalizing goal from Dominik Szoboszlai was unable to revive their performance.

Goals in the second half from Guus Til and Couhaib Driouech, who scored twice, have plunged the English league champions further into crisis.

Liverpool supporters, who a few months ago were praising Slot, have now turned to mocking him after the match. The players who were idolized at the end of last season are also not exempt from this ridicule.

An unusual sight occurred at Anfield when a sea of empty red seats was visible before the final whistle blew. Thousands of Liverpool supporters left the stands in frustration with the players' performance.

This is Liverpool's third consecutive defeat, and they have conceded a total of 10 goals. This performance is the worst for Liverpool since the 1950s, specifically the 1953-1954 season.

Undoubtedly, questions regarding the future of Slot at Anfield are beginning to emerge. Can Slot turn the situation around before it becomes worse?

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has piled on the pressure on Slot with a damning assessment of his situation.

"Every defeat brings us closer to a crisis. There is no excuse for a performance like that at this club. You cannot deny that this team is experiencing significant difficulties," said Gerrard to TNT.

"They are going through a very difficult period, their confidence is at an all-time low, and their defense is very fragile. Unless the manager can find solutions and stability within the team, this situation will persist," Gerrard added.

Nevertheless, Slot is confident that he will avoid dismissal. According to the 47-year-old coach, he continues to receive full support from Liverpool's owner, Fenway Sports Group.

"I feel safe. I am doing well. I receive a lot of support from above," he said. "I am not worried. I mean, my focus is directed towards other things besides my own position. I need to do better, and that is what I try to do every day."

"The Reds," who have lost six out of their last seven matches in the English League, were predicted to dominate this season after making significant purchases during the summer. However, the opposite has occurred. They are facing their biggest crisis instead.

Liverpool's poor performance occurred despite their unprecedented massive spending of 446 million pounds sterling to acquire star players. They broke the English transfer record by bringing in striker Alexander Isak after securing Florian Wirtz.

However, Isak has yet to demonstrate his sharpness and is still struggling with injury issues. Similarly, Wirtz, who is expected to enhance Liverpool's attacking power from the midfield, is also facing challenges.

Furthermore, Mohamed Salah, who was unstoppable last season, seems to have lost his sharpness. Meanwhile, the defense, which was so solid last season with the presence of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, now appears to be quite fragile.

The defeat to PSV placed Liverpool in 13th position in the Champions League group stage standings with nine points. Only the top eight teams advance directly to the knockout stage.

In the English Premier League, the defending champion is currently in 12th place. This is the first time in over a decade that Liverpool has found itself in the lower half of the standings.

With the hope of retaining the title almost certainly extinguished, Liverpool is also unable to ensure their advancement to the round of 16 in the Champions League. The coach is striving to maintain team cohesion as he urges the players and coaching staff to take responsibility for their poor performance.

"I think this is always about the team, and I believe we can all do better. You talk about individuals, but this applies to everyone, including myself," he said.

However, Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones was much more candid about the difficulties they are facing. "I don't have the answers. To be honest, I don't have them. This is truly unacceptable. I have already gone through the angry phase," said Jones to RTE.

The latest defeat has deepened Liverpool's crisis. If they are unable to turn the situation around, it is only a matter of time before Slot must leave Anfield. (AP/AFP)