Heskey: Slot Will Face the Inquisition Unless Liverpool Find Glory This Season

Emile Heskey has warned that Arne Slot's tenure at Liverpool hangs by a thread unless the Dutchman delivers silverware before the season's end.

The Reds' 2-1 reversal at home to Manchester City on Sunday has left them scrapping for a top-five berth, with Champions League qualification now far from guaranteed. Jamie Carragher has already suggested Slot's position becomes precarious should Liverpool miss out on Europe's premier competition, and Heskey echoes those sentiments—albeit with a measure of sympathy for the beleaguered boss.

"Managerial security at Liverpool requires you to keep winning and chasing trophies," Heskey told Football365 with agamble.com. "When you're not mounting a genuine assault on silverware, the questions inevitably follow. We mustn't overlook that he claimed the league title last term, though."

Yet the former striker acknowledges the elephant in the room: Slot's considerable spending has invited scrutiny, with critics suggesting the investment hasn't yielded returns. "He'll absolutely be watching his back," Heskey explained. "There's uncertainty about what comes next for both him and the club. Things have improved lately, but they're throwing away points in the closing stages of matches. He's shown positive signs, but the formation still needs refinement."

There's a silver lining lurking amid the gloom, however. Heskey reckons this season's Champions League represents genuinely open territory, with no titan emerging to dominate Europe's elite.

"Arsenal are having a solid campaign, but is there genuinely a world-class side in European football right now? I'd argue there isn't," he said. "That's precisely why the Champions League is there for the taking. Plenty of quality clubs are competing, yet none have established complete superiority. Any team could stake their claim—including Liverpool."

The former England international believes even a fifth-place finish needn't spell doom if the Reds can conjure magic in Europe. "Nobody's discussing sacking Slot if Liverpool win the Champions League. And it's entirely possible."

Heskey sees Florian Wirtz as crucial to Liverpool's resurgence, cautioning against expecting immediate brilliance from the German. "You can't parachute someone into the Premier League and expect instant fireworks," he noted. "It's a demanding, different beast to what he's encountered. At 22, he needs time, but his quality will emerge."

On Mohamed Salah's struggles since his mid-season exile, Heskey struck a more philosophical note. The Egyptian's public grievances following his omission seemed to signal the end of his Anfield story, particularly after his outburst when Liverpool drew 3-3 with Leeds in December.

"It's simply not functioning for him at present," Heskey observed. "You can't dismiss his previous achievements, so we must keep backing him. His record speaks for itself, so there's nothing to criticise there. Sometimes players' time runs out, but I don't reckon we're at that juncture with Salah just yet."

The pressure intensifies with Xabi Alonso, the former Liverpool midfielder now available after stepping down at Real Madrid, being touted as a potential successor. Slot finds himself among the bookmakers' favourites to become the next Premier League casualty.