Liverpool Football Club is facing mounting pressure as manager Arne Slot's future comes under intense scrutiny following a dramatic downturn in form. The Reds have suffered nine defeats in their last twelve matches, including a humiliating 4-1 home loss to PSV.
Reds Legends Rally Behind Under-Fire Manager
Despite the poor run of results, two of the club's most esteemed former players have come out in strong support of the Dutch manager. Steven Gerrard and Steve McManaman were both present for Wednesday's heavy defeat against PSV at Anfield, yet they remain united in their belief that Slot deserves more time.
When directly questioned about whether Slot should be sacked, McManaman was unequivocal in his response. "I think no," he stated. "I think it's far too early, what he's achieved and where he is now this year... they will have to be knocked out of the Champions League and wallowing at the bottom of the league."
McManaman suggested that a more appropriate time to assess Slot's position would be around their fixture against Arsenal in the second week of January, allowing time for injured players to return and improve the team's performance.
Gerrard Echoes Support Amid Growing Pressure
Former club captain Steven Gerrard, who has himself experienced managerial pressure at Rangers and Aston Villa, fully concurred with McManaman's assessment. He acknowledged that questions about the manager's future are an inevitable part of modern football, especially at an elite club like Liverpool.
"That's the world we live in, that's football in the modern day," Gerrard remarked. "I've been in that position myself. You understand that if you're not getting the results, there is going to be serious questions asked... that comes with the territory especially at the top end."
Both legends emphasised that Slot's achievements last season, where he was hailed as a hero for securing Premier League success, should afford him some breathing space during this difficult period.
Klopp's Past Praise Fuels Succession Speculation
As speculation about potential replacements grows, one name stands out among the rumoured candidates. Zinedine Zidane, the former Real Madrid manager currently without a club, has emerged as a possible successor should Liverpool decide to make a change.
Interestingly, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has previously spoken in glowing terms about the Frenchman. Ahead of the 2018 Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid, Klopp delivered a powerful endorsement of Zidane's capabilities.
"If a lot of people think Zinedine Zidane has not a lot of tactical knowledge and then people think the same about me that would be really funny," Klopp said at the time. "For me, Zinedine Zidane is one of the best five players of all time in football... I have to accept that he is as brilliant as he was as a player."
Klopp further praised Zidane's managerial approach, describing his Real Madrid team as playing "fantastic football" that was "organised when it needs to be organised and chaos when it needs to be chaos."
The immediate focus for Slot and his team remains their upcoming Premier League fixture against West Ham on Sunday, where they will be desperate to snap their losing streak and begin turning their season around.
