Despite reportedly contacting Xabi Alonso, Liverpool have NO INTENTION of sacking Arne Slot, with a top Reds reporter detailing four convincing reasons why.<\/p>\n
Liverpool<\/a> cruised through the Champions League group phase for the second successive season under Arne Slot<\/a>. The list of potential opponents in the Round of 16 reads Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Galatasaray and Club Brugge.<\/p>\n But while it\u2019s been relatively smooth sailing in Europe \u2013 the heavy 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven aside \u2013 Liverpool\u2019s domestic campaign can only be termed shambolic.<\/p>\n The Reds have won just five of their last 18 matches in the Premier League and none of their last five. In truth, Liverpool\u2019s title defence was already over by Christmas.<\/p>\n Liverpool\u2019s issues on the home front with set pieces, counter-attacks and low blocks have been there for all to see this term. Frustratingly, Slot doesn\u2019t appear to have the answers on how to solve any of those problems.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a situation that has prompted mass speculation Liverpool will make a managerial change, be that mid-season or in the summer.<\/p>\n Xabi Alonso is available to hire and seeking a quick return to management following his early exit from Real Madrid.<\/p>\n Numerous outlets plus our own sources at TEAMtalk have confirmed informal talks with Alonso\u2019s camp have been established<\/a> in the event Liverpool do decide it\u2019s game over for Slot.<\/p>\n That was followed by a cryptic clue from the editor of a national outlet<\/a> that strongly hinted Alonso is on the way to Merseyside.<\/p>\n Speculative reports<\/a> earlier on Thursday then stated Liverpool are \u2018expected to part ways\u2019 with Slot at season\u2019s end amid growing fears there\u2019s an irreparable disconnect between the players and manager.<\/p>\n But according to The Athletic\u2019s <\/a>James Pearce \u2013 who specialises in covering Liverpool \u2013 those hoping to see Slot turfed out of Anfield are out of luck.<\/p>\n Pearce insisted Liverpool\u2019s hierarchy have \u2018no plans\u2019 to sack Slot and pointed to four reasons as to why.<\/p>\n The quartet of reasons are: 1) No breakdown in relations with senior executives. 2) Acknowledgement the mass squad changes have lead to a \u2018transitional\u2019 season. 3) Numerous key, long-term injuries. 4) Continued belief Slot can and will turn the season around.<\/p>\n Delving deeper into those four reasons, Pearce wrote: \u2018They currently have no intention of following the lead of Man Utd, who dispensed with Ruben Amorim, or Chelsea, who parted company with Enzo Maresca.<\/p>\n \u2018Both teams have enjoyed an initial upturn in fortunes following the appointments of Michael Carrick and Liam Rosenior. However, in both cases, change was brought about by a breakdown in relations with club executives as well as results and performances.<\/p>\n \u2018At Liverpool, Slot\u2019s bond with sporting director Richard Hughes remains strong. It was Hughes who led the search for Jurgen Klopp\u2019s successor in 2024 and was convinced that Slot was the outstanding candidate to take over. That belief in his coaching acumen remains.<\/p>\n \u2018Unlike Amorim and Maresca, Slot is a Premier League title-winning boss. That buys you time and patience. There\u2019s sympathy for everything that the Dutchman has had to contend with since the glory of last season sent expectation levels through the roof.<\/p>\n \u2018From the\u00a0tragic loss of Diogo Jota\u00a0to the sweeping changes to the squad that led to talk internally that this was always likely to be a transitional campaign, and the succession of injury setbacks.<\/p>\n Pearce added: \u2018The Anfield hierarchy aren\u2019t blind to the problems that have blighted performances and caused Slot\u2019s side to be so inconsistent.<\/p>\n \u2018Questions are frequently asked about what could have been done differently. Even taking into account the hurdles placed in Liverpool\u2019s way, no one would argue that having just 36 points after 23 league games is anything other than unacceptable.<\/p>\n \u2018Slot has certainly made mistakes. He hasn\u2019t been able to impact matches as he did so often last season. But he\u2019s still the same coach who previously hit such heights, and there\u2019s faith internally that he will turn things around.<\/p>\n \u2018Their form in the Champions League, taking 18 points out of a possible 24, including the scalps of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Inter, shows what this team is capable of.\u2019<\/p>\n Want more breaking transfer lines from original sources? Add TEAMtalk as a preferred source on Google <\/strong><\/a>to your favourites list for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Latest Liverpool news \u2013 Centre-back hijack \/ Van Dijk, Robertson sales?<\/strong><\/p>\n In other news,\u00a0Liverpool are looking into a sensational centre-back hijack<\/a> amid claims the player is \u2018waiting\u2019 for a call from the Reds, though the cost of doing business could make Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards wince.<\/p>\n Elsewhere,\u00a0a\u00a0transfer insider has revealed\u00a0what Liverpool plan to do with Virgil van Dijk in the summer<\/a>\u00a0after the Dutchman began to show signs of decline throughout the current campaign.<\/p>\n Finally,\u00a0Tottenham have been told they still have a\u00a0significant chance of securing the signing of Andy Robertson this month<\/a> amid strong claims the star remains keen to quit Liverpool with immediate effect.<\/p>\n