Arn Slott could be sacked at the end of the season despite his historic debut at Anfield, according to The Athletic’s Adam Crafton.
The Dutchman, who led Liverpool to the Premier League title just last year, is currently going through a period of intense pressure as the club’s title defense completely collapses.
Download the official CaughtOffSide app to get all the latest news and updates straight to your phone. above apple & Google play
Speaking about the latest developments surrounding the Liverpool manager, Crafton suggested that while Slott may deserve patience, the ruthless nature of elite football means he could well end up leaving.
Adam Crafton says Arne Slott’s firing is ‘very likely’
Despite Liverpool’s leadership remaining publicly supportive, Crafton believes there could be a leadership change in the summer if results do not improve.
He said on The Athletic’s podcast:
“If we can win the league in the first season and even get into the Champions League if we get stuck, then I think it’s worth waiting another year to get out of the little rut we’re in.
“The guy won the league. It’s crazy to think that someone would get fired a year after winning the league, but I think it’s very possible.”
The comments reflect a growing feeling that even the manager who led the club to their first title under Klopp has been affected by a dramatic drop in performance.
Premier League title in debut season keeps Slott in work for now
The main reason Slott remains in the dugout is the immense accomplishments he earned during the 2024/25 season.
It was widely considered to be an impossible task to succeed someone as influential as Jurgen Klopp, but Slott achieved the unthinkable by winning the Premier League trophy on his first try.
That achievement has acted as a shield this season, with FSG and the Liverpool board reportedly reluctant to pull the trigger on him.
Liverpool have been terrible this season
However, the statistics paint a grim picture for the defending champions. Liverpool currently sit in fifth place, 21 points behind leaders Arsenal.
The Reds have already lost nine league games this season, the most by a defending champion at this stage of the season since Leicester City in 2017.
A crushing 1-0 defeat in the first leg against Galatasaray in the Champions League round of 16, coupled with a shocking defeat at home, has caused serious dissatisfaction among fans.
There was a huge lack of trust in the players and that was the biggest point for Liverpool under Klopp.
After spending more than £400m in the summer and failing to get any return on the pitch, Slot’s long-term future is up in the air.
