View 3 ImagesArne Slot has now lost four Premier League games in a row(Image: AP)
The pressure is growing on Liverpool boss Arne Slot after the Reds slipped to their fifth defeat in six games on Saturday night. The recent words of former boss Jurgen Klopp will now be echoing in the ears of fans and Slot alike as, upon speaking of a return to Liverpool, the German admitted: “It is possible.”
Liverpool’s 5-1 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League last week proved to be a false dawn as the Reds were easily undone by Brentford in a 3-2 defeat on Saturday evening.
The defeat by the Bees comes after losses to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Manchester United in the league, as well as away at Galatasaray in the Champions League. Slot and his team are now having to face the reality that the Premier League reigning champions are way off the title pace just nine games into the new campaign.
While the season is long, and it’s true that Liverpool still have plenty of time to make up the seven points that separates them from Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, even the most ardent supporter would concede that the Reds’ problems look as complex as the Gunners currently look strong.
The Dutchman has enough credit in the bank following his extraordinary title win in his maiden season and there is no indication Slot’s position is under threat. However, football is a fast and fickle game and Klopp’s remarks that he could possibly return to Anfield have certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons as pressure continues to mount.
Klopp departed Anfield after nine years at the end of the 2023/24 season having announced his decision to leave in January 2024. The Premier League and Champions League-winning coach had cited that he was “running out of energy.”
View 3 ImagesSlot is struggling to find a solution to Liverpool’s problems(Image: AMA/Getty Images)
Asked if he would ever return to Liverpool on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Klopp said: “I said I will never coach a different team in England so that means, if [I did return], then it’s Liverpool. So, yeah, theoretically it is possible.”
On what it would take for him to return to the Anfield dugout, he added: “I don’t even know exactly. I love what I do now. I don’t miss coaching. I don’t. I do coach but it’s just different, it’s not players.”
He continued: “I don’t miss it. I don’t miss standing in the rain for two-and-a-half or three hours. I also don’t miss going to press conferences three times a week. Having 10 or 12 interviews a week, I don’t miss that. I don’t. I don’t miss being in the dressing room. I coached around 1,080 games so I was in the dressing room very, very often.
“I don’t want to die in the dressing room. It’s these kind of things. I’m 58. From your perspective that might be old, but from other perspectives, it’s not that old. That means I could make a decision in a few years. I don’t know. Do I have to make a decision today? I will not coach again, but thank God I do not have to do that, I can just see what the future brings.”
Klopp’s time away from the game was shortlived as he made the move to become Red Bull’s Global Head of Soccerat the beginning of 2025, and has since taken on a new role with the German Football League, suggesting he doesn’t see himself coaching again any time soon.
Slot’s comments after the defeat at the Gtech Community stadium will have caused ripples of concern for Liverpool fans. The Reds were undone by Michael Kayode’s long throw in the first half, adding to a growing number of goals the Reds have conceded from set pieces this season – and Slot has claimed he is still no close to finding a resolution.
“Quite a few things,” he said in his post-match press conference when asked for the reasons behind his team’s recent woes. “It is definitely that teams have a certain playing style against us; it is a very good strategy to play. We have not found an answer yet.”
Next up for Liverpool is a Carabao Cup clash at Anfield against Palace on Wednesday. The game will offer little respite for Slot, with Oliver Glasner’s Eagles having already beaten Liverpool in the Community Shield and at Selhurst Park in the league this season.