Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has launched a passionate defence of under-fire manager Arne Slot, branding speculation about the Dutchman's potential sacking as 'ridiculous' and urging the club's hierarchy to show patience.
Pressure Mounts at Anfield
The call for calm comes as Liverpool prepare for a 'massive' crunch showdown against West Ham on Sunday, a match Heskey believes is pivotal for the team's faltering season. Slot finds himself under intense scrutiny following a disastrous run of nine defeats in just 11 games, a sequence that has shattered confidence and piled immense pressure on his position.
However, Heskey argues that Slot deserves significant credit in the bank for his remarkable achievement last season. 'We always praise managers, and Slot got a lot right last season,' Heskey stated, while acknowledging that the manager's tactical changes and substitutions have not been effective this campaign.
He pinpointed an 'accumulation of things' for the slump, including the integration of new players and a defence that has looked far from solid. 'Yes, the current run would see a lot of clubs sack their manager,' Heskey conceded. 'But most of these wouldn't have won the title last season.'
Heskey's Advice for Struggling Stars
The former England international also singled out two of Liverpool's big-money signings who are struggling to adapt. Heskey advised the club's British-record signing, Alexander Isak, who has netted just once since his summer move from Newcastle, to 'work harder' and get up to speed with the team's intensity.
Reflecting on his own record transfer to Anfield in 2000, Heskey noted the different expectations for a modern striker. 'I knew what I was brought in for. To be more creative than full on scoring,' he explained. 'Now it's different, because it's one up front - and the main focus is goals.'
He also commented on Florian Wirtz, another new arrival who has failed to make a significant impact. Heskey compared the German playmaker to Philippe Coutinho but suggested he needs to strengthen himself physically to withstand the challenges of the Premier League.
A Plea for Patience
Despite the escalating pressure, Heskey's message to the Liverpool board is clear. 'Sacking him? That's too drastic,' he insisted. 'He needs an opportunity to turn things round.' He believes that the weight of expectation is growing with each winless game, but a managerial change is not the solution.
In a separate development, Heskey also revealed he is fronting a new Football Safety App designed to tackle online and matchday abuse with real-time reporting, stating 'enough is enough' on the issue.
