Arne Slot Under Fire at Anfield: Champions League Miss Could Spell the End for Liverpool Manager

Arne Slot under pressure 

Liverpool's title defence in tatters: Arne Slot's faces mounting pressure at Liverpool after a dismal 2026 run leaves them 6th in the Premier League, 4 points off top five. Will poor domestic form see the Dutch man sacked this summer? 

“Liverpool aren't used to this mediocrity. Slot needs results...”

Liverpool's Arne Slot is facing mounting pressure as the Reds endure one of their worst campaigns in recent memory, raising questions about his long-term future at Anfield. With the team languishing in mid-table and a string of disappointing results, could this poor form ultimately cost him his job by season's end?

Arne Slot arrived at Liverpool in the summer of 2024 with high expectations, succeeding the legendary Jurgen Klopp after a successful stint at Feyenoord. His first season showed promise, with the Reds challenging for the title and securing a top-four finish. However, fast-forward to February 2026, and the narrative has shifted dramatically. Liverpool sit in 10th place in the Premier League after 24 matches, with just 32 points—a stark contrast to the 58 points they had at the same stage last season.

The stats paint a grim picture of Liverpool's decline under Slot this term. The team has won only 8 of their 24 league games (33% win rate), drawing 8 and losing 8, resulting in a goal difference of -2 (32 goals scored, 34 conceded). This is the club's worst start since the 2015-16 season under Brendan Rodgers, who was sacked early that year. Defensively, Liverpool have been porous, conceding an average of 1.42 goals per game-up from 0.89 in Slot's debut season. 

Key metrics from Opta highlight the issues:

Their expected goals against (xGA) stands at 1.51 per match, the highest since Klopp's early days, while their pressing intensity has dropped by 15%, leading to fewer turnovers in the final third (down from 12.4 to 9.8 per game).

Read our round-up of Arne Slot’s press conference on the eve of Liverpool's visit to Sunderland ⤵️ #SUNLIV

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 10, 2026

Offensively, the Reds have struggled to convert chances. Despite boasting talents like Mohamed Salah (who has managed only 7 goals this season, his lowest tally at this point since joining in 2017) and Darwin Nunez (6 goals, but with a conversion rate of just 11%), Liverpool's expected goals (xG) per game has fallen to 1.45 from 2.1 last year. The team ranks 12th in the league for shots on target (4.2 per game) and has the fourth-highest number of big chances missed (38). 

Injuries have played a role Virgil van Dijk has missed 10 games with a hamstring issue, and Trent Alexander-Arnold's form has dipped, with his assist count at a meager 3 compared to 9 at this stage last season but critics argue Slot's tactics have failed to adapt.

European performances offer little solace. Liverpool were eliminated in the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2009-10, finishing third in their group with 7 points from 6 matches (2 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses). Their Europa League playoff against Ajax ended in a humiliating 4-2 aggregate defeat, underscoring tactical naivety. Slot's overall record since joining stands at 78 wins from 142 games (55% win rate), but this season's 33% in the league is a worrying drop from 68% in 2024-25.

Fan discontent is palpable. Attendance at Anfield has dipped slightly, with average crowds at 59,800—down 2% from last year—and protests have emerged on social media platforms like X, where hashtags like #SlotOut have trended over 50,000 times in the past month. A recent 3-0 home loss to Manchester City drew boos from the Kop, and post-match surveys from fan sites like The Anfield Wrap show 62% of supporters believing a managerial change is needed if form doesn't improve by May.

Liverpool's board, led by Fenway Sports Group (FSG), has a history of patience Klopp was given time to build despite early struggles but precedents like Rodgers' dismissal after a poor start and even Klopp's near-sack in 2016 suggest limits. Reports from sources like The Athletic indicate that FSG is monitoring the situation closely, with potential replacements like Xabi Alonso (thriving at Bayer Leverkusen) and Roberto De Zerbi (recently available after Marseille) being informally discussed. Slot's contract runs until 2027, but a relegation battle currently 12 points above the drop zone but with tough fixtures ahead could force action. 

That said, mitigating factors exist. The squad has aged, with key players like Salah (33) and Van Dijk (34) showing signs of decline, and summer signings like midfielder Enzo Fernandez (on loan from Chelsea) have underperformed, with a pass completion rate of 82%, below the team average. Slot has pointed to a grueling schedule, including 14 midweek games due to cup commitments, as a contributor to fatigue. Advanced analytics from FBref show Liverpool's underlying numbers aren't as dire: their xG difference (+0.12 per game) suggests they've been unlucky, with variance in finishing and goalkeeping (Alisson Becker's save percentage at 68%, down from 75%).

Ultimately, whether Slot survives hinges on the run-in. Liverpool face crucial matches against top-six rivals Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea in March and April. If they can muster a late surge, perhaps aiming for a Europa Conference League spot (currently 5 points off 7th) he might buy time. Historical data from Transfermarkt shows that managers with win rates below 40% mid-season at big clubs have a 65% chance of being sacked by year's end. Slot's fate could mirror that of recent casualties like Tottenham's Thomas Frank or Chelsea's various short-term bosses.

For now, the pressure is on. As one former player, Jamie Carragher, noted on Sky Sports: “Liverpool aren't used to this mediocrity. Slot needs results, or the Kop's patience will run out.” With the season's second half receding, all eyes are on Anfield to see if the Dutchman can turn the tide, or if Liverpool's poor form seals his exit.