Liverpool manager Arne Slot has appeared to indicate that Fenway Sports Group, the club's ownership group, maintains faith in his leadership despite mounting pressure following a dismal run of Premier League results. The Reds have secured victory in only five of their last eighteen top-flight encounters, a sequence punctuated by a devastating 95th-minute loss away to Bournemouth this past weekend.
A Concerning Run of Form
This troubling period extends into the new year, with the reigning champions failing to register a league win in 2026 despite facing supposedly favourable fixtures against Leeds, Burnley, and Bournemouth. Notably, two of these matches were played at Anfield, traditionally a fortress for the Merseyside club. While Liverpool's Champions League campaign has offered a slight reprieve, with the team positioned to finish within the top eight, fan discontent with Slot's tenure is palpably growing.
Slot's Vote of Confidence
Amidst this backdrop, comments from Slot this week, as reported by the Express, strongly imply that the club's hierarchy, including principal owner FSG, has no immediate intention of dismissing him before the season concludes. Speaking in a pre-match interview with TNT ahead of the midweek European victory over Marseille, Slot articulated a message of collective patience.
"Everyone at the club, me, ownership, sports directors, we know what it takes to make the next step in this transition phase," Slot stated. "But sometimes a little bit of patience is needed in that as well."
These remarks have been interpreted as a public acknowledgement from Slot that the club's leadership recognises the constraints under which he is operating this season, potentially including a lack of sufficient squad investment.
Injuries and Transfer Inactivity Compound Issues
The Dutch manager has been severely hampered by an injury crisis that has drastically limited his options for rotation. He is also reportedly missing specific player profiles, such as direct, one-versus-one wingers. The situation in defence is particularly acute; Joe Gomez's injury against Bournemouth leaves Virgil van Dijk as the only fully available senior centre-back for the upcoming European fixture against Qarabag, with Ibrahima Konate absent due to a family bereavement.
Despite these glaring needs, Liverpool have been conspicuously quiet during the January transfer window. The club opted not to challenge Manchester City for the signatures of either Antoine Semenyo or Marc Guehi, despite previously registered interest in both players.
Managerial Explanations and Squad Management
Slot was explicit about the impact of injuries on his team selection at the Vitality Stadium. "That's why I have to credit my players; if you go 2-0 down the way we did, again we showed mentality and fitness to come back into the game," he said, before highlighting a comparative disadvantage. "[Bournemouth] only have to play once a week and, of course, that helps. That is not an excuse because a club like Liverpool is used to playing three times a week but we mainly do this with the same players."
He further contrasted the current campaign with the previous one, noting, "Last season we did not have three long-term injuries as we have now." This injury toll has forced pragmatic decisions, such as benching Hugo Ekitike against Bournemouth to manage the minutes of the club's only fit recognised striker.
"It was purely because I only have one No.9 fit for the coming weeks and months," Slot explained. A similar rationale was applied to Jeremie Frimpong, with Slot observing his energy levels dip in the second half. The cumulative effect, as Slot conceded, is players being deployed out of position, a reality he and the club's ownership seemingly acknowledge as part of a challenging transitional phase.
