Arne Slot admits it would be unacceptable for Liverpool to miss out on the Champions League next season
The Dutch manager is aware that failing to achieve that goal could lead to his dismissal.
The alarm bells at Anfield can no longer be ignored. Liverpool is enduring a Premier League campaign far below its usual standard, and the cold reality of the statistics is beginning to outweigh any tactical speculation. After 25 matches, the team has already recorded double the defeats of the entire previous season—a clear sign that the project is not progressing at the expected pace.
The consequences are primarily sporting, but the stakes are massive: as it stands, the Reds are currently out of European competition for next season. With Arsenal and Manchester City maintaining a consistent gap at the top, Liverpool’s margin for error has vanished.
The Pressure on Arne Slot
According to reports from Give Me Sport, a clear directive has been issued to the coaching staff: qualifying for the Champions League is a mandate, not a negotiable goal. If the team fails to secure a top-four finish, Arne Slot’s tenure as manager could be seriously jeopardized.
The Dutch tactician arrived midway through the 2024/25 season following Jürgen Klopp’s departure. While he has attempted to implement a new philosophy, the results have not followed, and patience in the Liverpool boardroom is reportedly wearing thin.
The Standings: A Merciless Reality
With only 13 matches remaining, Liverpool sits in 6th place with 39 points, a position that offers no continental football.
- Manchester United currently holds the final Champions League spot (4th) with 44 points.
- Chelsea remains in the hunt in 5th place with 43 points.
The path forward is clear: Slot’s men need an immediate winning streak to close the five-point gap and re-enter the European conversation.
The Champions League "Hail Mary"
There remains one alternative to save the season, though it is significantly more arduous: winning the current UEFA Champions League. Liverpool finished 3rd in the new league phase and is awaiting their Round of 16 opponent following the playoff rounds. Their potential path involves facing winners from ties such as Juventus vs. Galatasaray or Atletico Madrid vs. Club Brugge—a route that requires perfection in every leg.
A Date with Destiny at the Stadium of Light
The recent 2-1 home defeat to Manchester City has pushed the tension to a breaking point. The Reds are forced to react immediately this Wednesday, February 11, as they travel to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Beyond their own result, they will need favors from other teams to ensure the gap to Chelsea and Manchester United does not become insurmountable.
In Liverpool, they know that without an immediate resurgence, the season—and perhaps Slot's era—could end much sooner than anyone anticipated.
