Arne Slot has been appointed to UEFA's Technical Observer Group, securing his first role since being dismissed as Liverpool manager, while Jamie Carragher has warned Andoni Iraola that pressure will mount following Manchester City's guilty verdict for financial misconduct.
Liverpool will look to extend their unbeaten record when the Premier League resumes on Sunday with a clash against Manchester City at Anfield. The three-week international break was dominated by news that City had been found guilty of breaching Premier League financial regulations between 2009 and 2018, with speculation rife that they could face relegation.
Carragher warns Iraola of pressure
Carragher believes that should City face severe consequences, it could indirectly put pressure on Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola. City maintain their innocence, have lodged an appeal and remain confident of full exoneration, but Carragher is convinced the side will be relegated.
He argues the fallout will place Iraola, Michael Carrick at Manchester United and Xabi Alonso at Chelsea under significant pressure to deliver without City competing in the top flight. "City have been a valid excuse for narrowly losing titles and trophies. For others, they have been a convenient one," he wrote in his column for The Telegraph.
"For Liverpool, Chelsea and United, the timescale to become title challengers changes the moment City hear the outcome of their disciplinary hearing. The power shift will be instant and dramatic. We are not in a world in which Iraola can talk about long-term projects. Once the two immediate obstacles to another Liverpool title in the near future are reduced to one, there will be an expectation for his side to make haste."
Liverpool are amongst the clubs most significantly affected by the verdict, having finished as runners-up behind City on three occasions in recent years. Carragher urged the Anfield outfit to channel that "grievance as a source of motivation".
Slot lands UEFA role
Slot has secured his first position since being dismissed by the Reds at the conclusion of last season following a disappointing defence of their title. The Dutchman was linked with the Netherlands national team vacancy before making clear his immediate future lies in club management.
UEFA says the Technical Observer Group will monitor the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League with "stats and video assistance, enabling them to deliver detailed reports on the latest developments in coaching, which are shared among the footballing community to give a dynamic account of the state of the game."
On Slot's addition, European football's governing body added: "Slot made his name at Feyenoord, reaching the UEFA Conference League final in 2022 and winning an Eredivisie title and Dutch Cup in the following two campaigns. He joined Liverpool in 2024 and immediately guided the club to their second Premier League trophy in five years before departing Anfield this summer."
