Arne Slot is unlikely to be sacked as Liverpool’s head coach if they are knocked out of the Champions League next week, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.
The Reds are 1-0 down to Galatasaray heading into next Wednesday’s second leg at Anfield, with the pressure on Slot and his players.
For the Dutchman, he continues to battle to save his job, and he will know that going far in the Champions League will only aid his chances of remaining in charge beyond the summer.
Speaking to Football Insider, O’Rourke claimed that a decision won’t be made with Slot next week, even if Liverpool are eliminated by Galatasaray:
“It’ll definitely ramp up the pressure on him. Whether it’ll have a direct influence on a decision to be made on his future before the end of the season, I don’t think so. Obviously it was a very disappointing performance in the midweek defeat to Galatasaray.
“They were probably a bit lucky that it was only 1-0 in the end in the first leg, but they will be hopeful that they can turn it around and progress into the quarter-finals. Because of the success of last season, he’s got a bit of credit in the bank, and obviously the goal is now to try and end the season with some silverware.
“They’re in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, they hope to make progress in the Champions League, and then it’s all about finishing in the top five in the Premier League. So yeah, it’s a difficult time for Slot, but I don’t think any result next week against Galatasaray will have an immediate impact on his future.”
What will be enough for Arne Slot to save his job?
Liverpool fans will be divided about what Slot needs to achieve this season to keep his job, with some even wanting a change regardless.
Finishing in the top five in the Premier League has to be seen as the absolute bare minimum, with failure to qualify for the Champions League surely proving extremely costly.
Liverpool have to believe they will still reach the quarter-finals, though, with Galatasaray weak defensively, and winning the competition still has to be the aim, despite it feeling so unlikely.
Whatever happens, vast improvements are required from the Reds between now and May, or they will likely be looking for a new boss in the summer.
