There has been a growing cohort of Liverpool fans calling for Arne Slot’s dismissal as the season has played out, but a lesson from history shows exactly why those fans shouldn’t hold their breath.
Liverpool are running the risk of missing the Champions League next season, with a four-horse race unfolding against Chelsea, Aston Villa and Man United.
Top five should be a minimum requirement for any manager in the job at Anfield.
But Slot might get away with missing out — a near-identical situation unfolded with Brendan Rodgers ten years ago.
Who is your favourite Liverpool icon?
Some number nines in their day 👏
The parallels between Arne Slot and Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool
It’s actually quite incredible how aligned the two managers’ paths have been.
Rodgers finished the 2013/14 season on 84 points, denied of a title in the final goings of the campaign — the infamous slip.
But that’s the same tally that just comfortably won Slot’s first Premier League title ten months ago.
Rodgers spent big that summer, with his new-look side failing to mesh as Liverpool finished in a measly 6th place on 62 points. That’s the threat that hangs over Liverpool this season.
After that disappointment, many felt as though the Welshman’s time was up. FSG backed him, and his tenure would stretch into the 2015/16 season. After eight games, they pulled the plug with Liverpool sitting in 10th.
FSG likely to repeat the feat with Arne Slot
As we have seen, Liverpool don’t lose patience. Their patience has been an absolute virtue over their successful ownership spell.
If Slot doesn’t manage to qualify for the Champions League, even I — part of the Slot In camp at this moment — would question a repeat of the Rodgers decision.
What is the cause of Liverpool’s historically bad late-game management? 👀
Is it complacency, lack of focus, or are they just rattled beyond repair?
Wolves’ injury-time winner is the fifth against Liverpool this season — the most in PL history 😬
But as is often always the case with owners, the opinions of the fans mean little.
If Liverpool can perform at the level we know they’re capable of for the rest of the season, we won’t have to worry about all this, though many of the Anfield faithful will likely still be calling for the Dutchman’s head, Champions League qualification or no.
- READ MORE: Liverpool’s road to Budapest: Each opponent the Reds could face in the Champions League knockouts
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
