Pressure is mounting on Liverpool manager Arne Slot, with reports emerging that the club's hierarchy is already considering his replacement. The man touted as the number one candidate, Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique, has already delivered a very clear public verdict on the Dutchman.
From Praise to Pressure
The situation has deteriorated rapidly for Arne Slot at Anfield. After a promising first season, Liverpool have lost nine of their last 12 games across all competitions. This dismal run includes a shocking 4-1 Champions League defeat to PSV at home, leaving the team languishing in 12th place in the Premier League and their title defence in tatters.
According to The Sun, Liverpool executives are growing increasingly concerned that the dressing room is turning against Slot. This has prompted the club to identify a primary target to succeed him, should a change be made.
Enrique's Past Verdict on Slot's Liverpool
That top pick is Luis Enrique. The current PSG manager faced Slot's Liverpool just last March in a thrilling Champions League last-16 tie. Ahead of those fixtures, the Spaniard was effusive in his praise for the job Slot was doing.
Enrique described the match-up as difficult to imagine better on paper, noting the two dominant teams with slightly different styles. He specifically highlighted Liverpool's status as one of Europe's best teams and credited Slot for a remarkable transition.
"It was difficult to improve on what Klopp did, but Arne Slot has succeeded in creating an almost perfect team," Enrique told reporters. He went on to laud the presence of Mohamed Salah and other top-class players, calling Liverpool "a very complete team."
He didn't stop there, labelling Liverpool's attack as "one of the best in Europe" and warning of their "three fighter jets up front" on the counter-attack. This resounding endorsement from a managerial peer made Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's owners, take special notice of Enrique.
A Dramatic Shift in Fortunes
The landscape today is starkly different. The 'perfect team' Enrique admired is now in a deep crisis. Mohamed Salah's significant drop in form is cited as one factor, but the ultimate responsibility for the team's downward slide falls on Arne Slot.
For Luis Enrique, the circumstances are also changed. After leading PSG to a historic treble last season, his stock is high. The French champions will likely fight to keep him, as his contract runs until the summer of 2027, making any potential move to Liverpool complex.
Whether Enrique still holds the same view of Slot's squad is unknown. What is clear is that the Liverpool manager is under intense scrutiny, and his potential successor has already weighed in on his abilities, casting the current Anfield crisis in an even more intriguing light.
