Jamie Carragher has issued a stark warning to Liverpool manager Arne Slot, suggesting his job could be on the line if the club fails to secure a Champions League spot for next season. Despite winning the Premier League in his debut 2024-2025 season and receiving significant backing in the transfer market, Liverpool's recent form has seen them plummet in the league standings, making a top-four finish increasingly precarious.

Ahead of the current season, Slot oversaw a substantial investment of 603 million USD to bring in seven new signings, including three major deals: Alexander Isak (175,5 million USD from Newcastle), Florian Wirtz (170 million USD from Leverkusen), and Hugo Ekitike (106,5 million USD from Frankfurt). The team started strong with five consecutive wins, but then took a nosedive, suffering five defeats in their next six Premier League matches. The recent 2-3 loss at Bournemouth last weekend saw Liverpool drop to sixth place, one point behind Chelsea and two points behind Man Utd.

Coach Arne Slot disappointed after Liverpool lost to Bournemouth 2-3 in round 23 of the Premier League on 24/1. *Photo: AFC Bournemouth*

Speaking on Monday Night Football, Carragher was unequivocal. "If you don't secure a Champions League spot after just winning the Premier League and spending as much as Liverpool, I don't think the coach can offer excuses", he commented. The former England international highlighted systemic weaknesses within his old club, pinpointing three prominent issues in the Premier League: set pieces, counter-attacks, and facing low-block defensive teams. "Liverpool are struggling in all three of those aspects", Carragher added.

The race for the top 4 has become more intense, Carragher noted, with both Man Utd and Chelsea showing improved form after changing coaches. He drew a clear distinction between not competing for the title and failing to qualify for the Champions League. "Liverpool doesn't always win titles; that's a collective responsibility", he stated. "But failing to qualify for the Champions League after becoming champions, spending over 600 million USD, and having the highest wage bill in the league is a completely different issue."

Carragher also believes Liverpool needs to sign a center-back soon in the January transfer window. Currently, Slot has only one first-team option, Virgil van Dijk, with Joe Gomez injured and Ibrahima Konate absent for personal reasons. Carragher further warned that if Van Dijk were to get injured, Liverpool's season could effectively be over.

Coach Slot directs Liverpool's training session on 27/1. *Photo: Liverpool FC*

Meanwhile, manager Arne Slot himself acknowledged the team's struggles in both attack and defense during the pre-Qarabag Champions League press conference. The Dutch coach stressed the need to quickly address the imbalance in their play to mitigate external criticism. "It's very difficult to silence the noise given our current position", he said. "Every loss or disappointing result brings criticism back. That's unavoidable when you're not competing for the title."

Slot elaborated on the team's tactical shortcomings, explaining that while Liverpool plays well in midfield and often gets the ball into promising positions, they lack sharpness in the opponent's penalty area. He also expressed concern about the defense, noting that opponents only need three or four approaches to Liverpool's box each match to frequently create chances, and even score.

Slot also urged a realistic view, acknowledging that Liverpool has not dominated major competitions for a long time. "Liverpool's goal is always to win, but in the past 30 years, we've only achieved that twice", he stated.

In contrast to their domestic struggles, Liverpool is in a strong position in the Champions League. They have 15 points, sitting 4th, meaning a win against Qarabag at Anfield today would secure a spot in the top 8 and direct qualification for the knockout stage without needing a play-off.

Hong Duy (via Sky Sports)