Arne Slot: Liverpool boss says there’s no gu...

Arne Slot mentioned there are “no ensures” he’ll keep on as Liverpool boss if the membership fail to qualify for subsequent season’s Champions League – however pointed to the membership standing by Jurgen Klopp in related circumstances as a superb omen for him.

Sky Sports activities‘ Jamie Carragher says Slot is not going to have a leg to face on if Liverpool go from Premier League champions to ending exterior of the top-five after £450m was spent final summer season – regardless of the Dutchman delivering the title final time period.

After Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Man Metropolis at Anfield on Sunday, Carragher claimed it’s unlikely that Liverpool will end within the top-five subsequent season as a result of type of the Reds’ rivals. Liverpool started this midweek spherical of fixtures 4 factors behind fifth-placed Chelsea – forward of a visit to Sunderland on Wednesday.

“That’s once more a troublesome query for me to reply as a result of I don’t resolve my future,” Slot mentioned on whether or not his future relies on Champions League soccer.

Nonetheless, Slot then talked about how Liverpool stood by Klopp on the finish of the 2022-23 season, when the Reds completed fifth – behind Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United – and missed out on the Champions League soccer, hinting that it could possibly be a superb omen for him.

“The one factor I do know is that it occurred earlier than, and not too long ago, and it did not have an effect on the way forward for that supervisor,” Slot mentioned, referring to that season below Klopp. “However that does not assure something after all.”

Slot: That is my hardest season by a mile

Slot admits he’s enduring by far essentially the most difficult season of his managerial profession as he makes an attempt to safe a Champions League spot with Liverpool.

“By a mile,” the Dutchman mentioned, when requested if it was his most troublesome marketing campaign. “As a result of all the opposite seasons I’ve managed there have been solely positives. I do not assume I’ve ever misplaced two video games in a row [before].

“It is an exception this season for me, as it’s for the gamers. The gamers will not be used to dropping so much or having lots of attracts.

“It’s completely different with the season we’re having now than all the opposite seasons I’ve managed the place we at all times did one thing particular – and there is nonetheless the likelihood that we are able to do one thing particular this season as properly.”

‘A good distance again’ – Carra expects Liverpool to overlook out on CL spots

On Sunday, Carragher revealed he expects Liverpool to overlook out on Champions League qualification by the Premier League.

The Sky Sports activities pundit mentioned it’s now “a good distance again” for Arne Slot’s aspect to complete within the prime 5, following their 2-1 defeat at dwelling to Manchester Metropolis on Tremendous Sunday.

When requested if he reckons Liverpool will make the Premier League’s qualifying locations for the Champions League – which is about to be expanded from 4 positions to 5 once more this season – Carragher replied on Sunday: “No. Proper now, I do not.

“They must have an enormous upturn in kind. And those above them are in nice kind.

Once you have a look at the league for Liverpool, it appears like a protracted highway forward to get into the highest 5 Champions League positions. There is a hole now.

You can also make that up, however Liverpool must do properly within the two cup competitions to save lots of the season.

“The supervisor has one other resolution to make on the entrance 4,” Carragher added.

“If Liverpool proceed the best way they’re, with a entrance 4 and the video games finish to finish, I simply do not see how they’ll make the Champions League positions.

“However it doesn’t matter what Arne Slot does, the make-up of this squad and crew is not proper. It by no means appears steady, they’re by no means in management.

“There’s a lengthy highway forward for Liverpool to make the Champions League locations.”

Neville: Win at Sunderland and Liverpool again on bike

Carragher’s fellow Sky Sports activities pundit Gary Neville was extra optimistic on Liverpool’s top-five prospects – however mentioned they need to present psychological resilience to bounce again from the defeat to Metropolis.

“They’re now 4 factors behind the highest 5,” he mentioned on The Gary Neville Podcast. “That is not a giant hole in any respect, and there is a lengthy technique to go, and so they’ll must play a lot of the groups above them, in order that they’ve nonetheless received a great deal of alternatives.

“However there is a query mark over Liverpool. There’s a query mark as as to whether they’ll end within the Champions League locations.

“I nonetheless assume they’ll, however what they must do is field that [defeat to City] up in a short time, and chuck it in a nook, and neglect about it.

“There will be some who say it is occurring far too usually, conceding objectives late on. There will be those that say one thing’s mistaken, one thing’s essentially mistaken, structurally mistaken. However I believe they simply must try to compose themselves if they’ll. They should pull themselves collectively.

“They have lots of expertise with Alisson, Alexis Mac Allister, Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah and Ryan Gravenberch. They have numerous gamers who know what to do.

“Can they maintain it collectively? Can they get again on the bike?

“They go to Sunderland subsequent. That’s awkward. Go and win there if you happen to actually wish to inform all people that you just’re nonetheless going to be within the Champions League. Go and win at Sunderland, which shall be a troublesome place to go.

“Win there emphatically, be skilled, maintain a clear sheet, and that is the place everybody must look now for Liverpool.”