FSG Back Slot Despite Liverpool's Worst Season Since Klopp Era Began

Liverpool's hierarchy have signalled their intention to keep Arne Slot in the dugout for next season, according to reports, despite a campaign that has spiralled into genuine crisis at Anfield.

The 47-year-old Dutch manager came under fresh fire following Wednesday's 2-0 defeat to PSG, a particularly galling result given his decision to deploy five at the back in a defensive setup that drew widespread criticism for its negativity. That loss marked the Reds' 17th defeat across all competitions this term—a grim record that no defending Premier League champions have ever matched.

Liverpool sit a daunting 21 points adrift of league-leaders Arsenal and now face a genuine scrap simply to secure Champions League football, with their run-in offering precious little comfort compared to their rivals chasing a top-five finish.

Slot himself conceded post-match that his side were operating in "survival mode," yet The Telegraph suggests this gloom masks a markedly different sentiment from Fenway Sports Group and the club's executive pair of Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes. Far from sharpening the axe, the expectation at boardroom level is that the manager merits a fresh opportunity next season.

The Case for Continuity

The club's reasoning hinges on several interconnected factors. First among them is the genuine upheaval caused by Diogo Jota's death, which FSG view as legitimate mitigation for the team's struggles. Beyond that tragedy, key personnel have simply evaporated: Mohamed Salah has announced his departure, whilst Virgil van Dijk's admission on Wednesday that this marked "the end of an era" proved prophetic when Andy Robertson confirmed his exit the following day.

Both defenders were instrumental in last season's title triumph, and their simultaneous decline has left Liverpool bereft of the defensive steel that characterised their success.

The club also believes Slot requires four transfer windows before any meaningful evaluation can take place. By that logic, Klopp received five before capturing his first trophy—the Champions League in 2019. Whilst the £450m expenditure last summer catches the eye, Liverpool's accountants estimate the net outlay at roughly £150m under Slot's stewardship.

Timing and Alignment

There's also neat administrative alignment at play. Slot's contract expires at the end of next season, as do those of Hughes and Edwards. The club apparently relishes the prospect of all three parties' futures being decided simultaneously rather than piecemeal, suggesting a coordinated approach to the club's direction.

The Alonso Complication

The fifth pillar of FSG's thinking concerns the identity of Slot's potential successor. Xabi Alonso became available after Real Madrid dispensed with him in January, yet his reluctance to abandon Bayer Leverkusen when Liverpool came calling last summer—as they sought Klopp's replacement—continues to rankle with the hierarchy.

That hesitation to follow one of the club's greatest managers, contrasted against Slot's eagerness to embrace the challenge, remains a factor in their calculations. It's a contrast that, rightly or wrongly, continues to weigh against the former Liverpool midfielder's candidacy.