Arne Slot Remains Committed to Liverpool Amid Challenging Run

Arne Slot has reaffirmed his commitment to Liverpool, stating his intention to “fight on” following discussions with the club’s leadership, despite the team’s alarming recent performance.

The Reds suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League, marking their ninth loss in twelve matches. Remarkably, Liverpool has experienced three consecutive defeats, each by a margin of three goals or more.

When questioned about his future during conversations with sporting director Richard Hughes and other key figures at Anfield, Slot responded: “We have had the same discussions since I arrived here. We continue to fight and strive for improvement, which is the collective aim. However, the nature of these conversations has remained consistent since my tenure began.”

Regarding his feelings toward his players, Slot stated: “No, not at all. However, I acknowledge that our performance standards have not met the expectations we are accustomed to. We believe we can and should perform better. Last season, during our successful run, the focus was on individuals, but I maintained that success should be team-oriented. If we are underperforming now, the focus should remain on the team.”

He noted, “Playing or working at a top club comes with significant pressure, particularly when the team is losing more matches than is typical for this club, these players, or myself as a manager. Last season, the pressure was to win the league, but now it has shifted due to our current losing streak.”

Slot continued, “For me, the task remains the same, although I am not out there playing, which might make my role somewhat easier in this context. I understand the challenges faced by players during a poor run of results, especially when conceding early and then performing well in the first half only to concede again shortly after halftime.”

“We are taking hits repeatedly, which is challenging, yet I insist that we must continue to fight. This resilience was a hallmark of our performance last season and has been a defining characteristic of this club for many years. That is what we expect of ourselves.”

He concluded, “The minimum expectation for me and the team is to deliver a strong performance over the full 90 minutes, which can be difficult when faced with consecutive setbacks.”

Liverpool is set to face West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday, with hopes of having goalkeeper Alisson Becker back in the lineup after he missed Wednesday’s match due to illness. Additionally, midfielder Florian Wirtz may return following a muscle injury, while striker Hugo Ekitike’s availability remains uncertain after exiting the match against PSV with a back issue.