The pressure is mounting on Liverpool manager Arne Slot after a disastrous run of form, with reports emerging that Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique is the club's top choice to replace him.
Pressure builds on Arne Slot
Arne Slot is fighting for his future at Anfield following a dismal sequence of results. The Dutchman, who led the Reds to a stunning Premier League title in his first season, has now overseen a catastrophic nine defeats in the last twelve matches across all competitions.
This poor run hit a new low with a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest in the league, followed by a 4-1 Champions League humiliation against PSV at Anfield. Slot admits the situation is dire, stating, “It would be nice to turn it around and get a victory. But if you are working as a coach and not doing well then it is normal that questions are asked.”
Luis Enrique emerges as primary candidate
Should Liverpool's American owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), decide to make a change, Luis Enrique is the man they want. The highly-decorated Spanish coach is currently employed by PSG but has a previously stated ambition that will intrigue the Anfield hierarchy.
Back in a 2023 interview with Cadena Ser radio, the 55-year-old made his feelings on English football perfectly clear. “I follow above all the Premier [League] because I would like to go to England to work,” Enrique revealed.
He added a crucial caveat that aligns perfectly with a club of Liverpool's stature, saying, “I wouldn’t go to any team but to one that could do important things, which greatly reduces the number. I would go to a team with possibilities.”
A proven winner with European pedigree
Enrique's credentials are beyond dispute. He is a two-time treble-winning manager, having achieved the feat with Barcelona in 2015 and repeating the incredible accomplishment with PSG last season. His Parisian side secured their first-ever Champions League title under his guidance, cementing his status as one of Europe's elite coaches.
The Spaniard is no stranger to Liverpool, having faced them in last season's Champions League. His PSG side lost 1-0 in Paris before overcoming Slot's Liverpool at Anfield on penalties after a 1-0 victory in 120 minutes. After those tense clashes, Enrique was full of praise for the Merseyside club, calling them “one of the best teams in Europe” and crediting Slot for creating an “almost perfect team.”
While Slot maintains he still has the backing of the owners, the club is reportedly planning for all contingencies. In a dramatic twist, it has been suggested that former boss Jurgen Klopp could be asked for a short-term return if a change is made mid-season, with a view to a permanent appointment like Enrique being more feasible in the summer.
The immediate future of Arne Slot is believed to hinge on the team's upcoming fixtures against West Ham United, Sunderland, and Leeds United. For now, the shadow of Luis Enrique and his publicly stated Premier League ambition looms large over Anfield.
