Slot Under Pressure as Keown Issues Candid Assessment of Liverpool’s Struggles
Liverpool’s season has lurched into deeper uncertainty after a bruising 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield – a result that has intensified scrutiny on Arne Slot’s early tenure. Despite delivering a title in his debut campaign, the Dutchman now finds himself navigating a turbulent period marked by six defeats in seven matches across all competitions.
Keown’s Verdict on Slot’s Future
Slot’s position is being debated widely, yet leading pundits continue to urge caution before any drastic decisions are made. Among them is former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, who offered a forthright view following Liverpool’s latest setback.
“We have to give credit to Forest for what they are doing but yes, the wheels are coming off now for Arne Slot,” Keown reflected after the final whistle. His appraisal underscored both an appreciation for Forest’s organisation and an acknowledgement of Liverpool’s alarming slide.
Keown went further in assessing Liverpool’s £450 million summer overhaul, one that has yet to yield convincing results. “Obviously, it was Jurgen Klopp’s team, and he has tried to come in and make changes, but he has spent £450 million on players, and they are going backwards. They have simply been undone. Whether it’s a crisis I don’t know, it’s certainly a major problem for the manager to go six defeats from seven. Unthinkable.”
His insistence that Liverpool will not make a hasty change is firm: “I don’t think you can win the league one year and get sacked the next… Their fall from grace and to lose this many games at the start of the season, they are eight points behind top spot, it is unthinkable really from this time last season.”
Redknapp Calls for Patience Amid Mounting Pressure
Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp echoed Keown’s stance, stressing that composure should guide the club’s decision-making. Speaking after Forest’s 3-0 victory, he reflected on the impact of Klopp’s departure and its delayed consequences.
“I look at Liverpool now, this is what I expected to happen last season,” he admitted. “After Jurgen Klopp leaving the club I thought it would have some negative effect on the team. There wasn’t. They did something absolutely extraordinary and won the league.”
Redknapp believes the current turbulence must be handled sensibly: “Right now, I think it’s a time for patience because there’ll be people, pundits, everyone going crazy, saying ‘Sack the manager’. Be calm, take your time, make sure you assess it, it’s been the most difficult pre-season you can imagine for those players.”
Klopp Linked Once Again as Bookmakers React
Slot’s struggles have inevitably reignited speculation over Klopp’s long-term future – or potential return. Bookmakers have placed him as short as 2/1 to reassume the Liverpool role, despite no indication that Fenway Sports Group are contemplating change.
Other candidates mentioned include Oliver Glasner, Andoni Iraola, Unai Emery and Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann, though Klopp’s name naturally commands the highest profile.
The former Liverpool boss previously left the door ajar when speaking in October. Asked whether he could ever come back, he replied: “I said I would never coach a different team in England. So that means if I did return to England then it’s Liverpool. Yeah, theoretically it’s possible.”
At 58, he remains content with his work outside club football but has never dismissed the possibility of a future return. “I don’t know… I could make a decision in a few years. I will not coach again, but thank God I do not have to do that, I can just see what the future brings.”
Klopp, now working within Red Bull’s football operations and contributing to German football governance, has also been warm in his praise of Slot. “He’s a super good guy. He got the best out of this team, and they became champions in an incredible manner.”
Slot Faces Critical Phase in Liverpool’s Season
While the speculation swirls, Slot’s challenge is to arrest a decline that has seen Liverpool drift dangerously far from early-season expectations. With results faltering and confidence wavering, the coming weeks may define the narrative around his stewardship.
Yet the stance from respected voices remains resolute: Liverpool must back the man who delivered the Premier League title only months ago. Whether that patience endures will depend on how swiftly Slot can steady the ship.
