Liverpool are still backing Arne Slot, but the mood around him has shifted badly enough that his future is now as much about fan trust as boardroom patience. Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea was played out in an atmosphere of toxicity rarely heard at Anfield. Liverpool have lost 18 times this season, nine of them in a 12-game sequence, and the club's £450m spend has left the season looking far removed from what was planned.

Why the pressure has grown so quickly

Slot has been clear about where he stands. “I have every reason to believe I am the Liverpool manager next season,” he said, and he also insisted he can handle criticism without changing how he works.

That remains the position from Liverpool's side too, with no move planned against a coach under contract until 2027. But the scale of the drop-off is hard to ignore. Liverpool are 20 points behind leaders Arsenal and sit fourth in the Premier League, with 59 points from 36 league games. This is not a minor wobble, it is a title defence that has unravelled fast.

The fan reaction matters because it is not happening in a vacuum. Danny Murphy's warning was blunt enough: once the fanbase turns at one of the biggest clubs in the world, recovery gets extremely difficult unless the team wins consistently and in the style supporters expect.

Alonso keeps the speculation alive

The obvious name hovering over any future change is A. Alonso. Liverpool have contacted Real Madrid to enquire about him, which keeps the discussion alive even though it does not amount to a decision. That is the point here. There is noise, there is an alternative, and there is still a manager in place.

Murphy's view is that Alonso would be an upgrade on the current situation, while Liverpool's own stance is still to keep faith with Slot. Those two positions can coexist for now, but they leave the club with a delicate choice if the mood at Anfield keeps hardening.

The next league game is away to Aston Villa on Friday, and the pressure around Slot will follow Liverpool straight into it. If results do not improve, the debate will only get louder.

FAQ

Will Liverpool sack Arne Slot after this run of results?

Not according to the current reporting. Liverpool are still backing Arne Slot for now, and the sources say no move is planned. The pressure comes from the fan backlash, 18 defeats, nine of them in a 12-game sequence, and a £450m season that has put his standing under strain.

Why are Liverpool fans turning on Arne Slot?

The mood hardened after Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea, which was played out in an atmosphere of toxicity rarely heard at Anfield. Liverpool have lost 18 times this season, nine in a 12-game sequence, and the club are 20 points behind leaders Arsenal in fourth.

Is Xabi Alonso really being considered by Liverpool?

Alonso is being discussed as a possible option, not a confirmed replacement. Liverpool have contacted Real Madrid to enquire about him, but the reporting also says Slot is under contract until 2027 and the club are still backing him for now.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →