Slot's Future in Focus as Liverpool Back Under-Fire Boss
Liverpool manager Arne Slot retains the full backing of the club's owners, Fenway Sports Group, despite growing pressure following a trophyless season. The Dutchman, who succeeded Jurgen Klopp last summer, has overseen a disappointing campaign that will end without silverware and a distant fifth-place finish in the Premier League, 18 points behind leaders Arsenal.
According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, the club's intention is to stick with Slot into next season. Ornstein, speaking on The Athletic Football Podcast, stated that FSG's "intention... is to stick with Arne Slot into next season and give him longer." The club reportedly acknowledges the significant challenge of the post-Jurgen Klopp transition and the scale of the rebuild required in the squad.
Slot's former assistant, Marino Pusic, has publicly defended the under-pressure manager. Pusic, now managing Al-Jazira, worked with Slot at AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord and was offered a role on his backroom staff at Anfield. In an interview with Dutch outlet Voetbal International, Pusic argued that Slot deserves more credit and patience. "Many people forget how frequently Liverpool has become champion of England in recent decades," Pusic said, referencing the club's 30-year title drought before their 2020 Premier League win. "Arne did it right away in his first season, but Jurgen Klopp has also only won the Premier League title once."
Pusic, who turned down a role on Slot's Liverpool staff to pursue his own head coaching career, also revealed he declined an offer to join Slot’s backroom team at Anfield. The 42-year-old, a close friend of Slot, called the Liverpool boss "one of the best coaches in the world" but cited his own ambitions as a head coach for declining the role. Despite public discontent from some sections of the fanbase, Pusic believes the club must stay the course, adding, "They would do well at Liverpool to remain calm and give Arne and his staff their confidence."
The club's support for Slot appears firm. Ornstein reported that FSG and the Liverpool hierarchy recognize the mitigation of a major squad overhaul. The club has backed Slot in the transfer market, with a reported outlay of around £440 million on new signings last summer. The club is expected to be active again this summer, with the need for a new left-back to provide competition for Andy Robertson a priority, as well as a new centre-back. The club has also scouted RB Leipzig's 20-year-old defender, Yan Diomande, as a potential target.
While the season has fallen short of expectations, the internal belief is that Slot should be judged after a full summer transfer window and pre-season to further implement his ideas. The focus now shifts to the summer rebuild and backing Slot to improve the squad and performances for the 2025/26 campaign.
