Arne Slot's Liverpool future secure despite Champions League exit, says Collymore
Liverpool manager Arne Slot will not be sacked this summer even if the club fails to qualify for next season's Champions League, according to former Reds striker Stan Collymore. The assertion comes after Liverpool's elimination from this season's competition, following a 2-0 home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain that sealed a 4-0 aggregate loss in the quarter-finals.
The defeat ensures Liverpool will end the 2025/26 campaign without a trophy, a significant shortfall for a club that invested approximately £440 million in new players last summer. Slot's position has been under scrutiny during a difficult season, with reports last autumn suggesting he was close to being dismissed during a run of nine defeats in 12 games. However, Collymore, speaking exclusively to TEAMtalk, insists the club's ownership, Fenway Sports Group, is likely to maintain a conservative approach.
"I don’t think going out of the Champions League at this point will make much difference for Arne Slot," Collymore said. "Based on their form this season, you’d probably say that getting to the quarter-finals is about par." He acknowledged, however, that missing out on next season's Champions League would raise serious questions, particularly regarding the club's ability to attract top-tier transfer targets without the lure of Europe's premier competition.
The context of last season's Premier League title win is seen as a crucial factor providing Slot with breathing room. Collymore suggested that achievement has earned the Dutchman significant credit, making an immediate dismissal unlikely. "Winning the Premier League last season has given him plenty of breathing space, so I expect he’ll remain in charge regardless," he added. This aligns with reports from last week, where several journalists indicated Slot was expected to stay, though a broader season review by FSG is still anticipated.
Despite this security, the implications of a potential Europa League campaign are stark for Liverpool's transfer strategy. The club is already facing the summer departure of key figures Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson. Collymore questioned whether elite talents, such as Crystal Palace's Michael Olise, would be willing to join a project outside the Champions League. This concern is amplified by recent comments from Slot himself, who indicated the club may need to sell players before buying in the upcoming window.
When asked about a potential successor should a change occur, Collymore acknowledged that Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso would "almost certainly be on the shortlist." However, he emphasized his belief that FSG are not a trigger-happy ownership group. "I just don’t see Liverpool as a sacking club," Collymore stated. "I’ve always felt FSG are fairly conservative when it comes to those sorts of decisions." He contrasted Liverpool's likely approach with that of clubs like Chelsea, who are more prone to abrupt managerial changes.
The immediate focus for Slot is now securing a top-four finish in the Premier League, with Liverpool currently fifth. Failure to do so would not only impact prestige and finances but also severely constrain the club's ambitions in a critical summer rebuild. While his job appears safe for now, the pressure to deliver Champions League football and set the stage for a successful recruitment drive represents the true test of his ongoing tenure at Anfield.
