Liverpool boss Arne Slot admits to 'debate' about his future as he faces up to reality

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has claimed that there is "always a debate" over whether a manager should remain if they have a below par season - but is confident he will be in charge at Anfield next season.

The Dutchman has been forced to field questions about his future following a huge decline in the space of 12 months. Slot's stock was incredibly high after he delivered the Premier League title in his debut campaign, taking over impressively from Jurgen Klopp.

However his second season has been more of a struggle, despite the club spending more than £400million in the summer, which twice saw them break the British transfer record. The Reds were out of title contention by Christmas and have had to battle to make the Champions League.

They sit fourth and look set to qualify, but the manner of some of their performances has led to questions about Slot's future, but the ex-Feyenoord boss is confident he'll remain.

He said: “I don't think I decide that alone [if he will be Liverpool coach]. I am contracted to this club, all the talks we have, so yeah, that is my take on it.

"If you don't have the best season, compared to last, definitely not been great then it is normal criticism comes and we have all had their share. That is how things work nowadays if you don't win the league.”

Slot also maintained it was not his job to self-assess his own performance. “I think where the world has gone to, if a manager doesn't have their best season, it is always a debate," he said.

"That is the new reality in football. Not up to me to judge the people that judge me. They have every right to that opinion and everyone can share that. Everyone used to do that in the pub now they can share it [everywhere]. Now it is more out in the open and it is the same everywhere."

It has been well documented that some of Liverpool's big investments, notably Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, have struggled. The Reds have found life difficult to cope with set pieces and also breakdown teams who sit deep against them, something Slot has acknowledged.

Despite their heavy spend there is an acceptance that Liverpool need to bolster certain areas whilst they will see talisman Mohamed Salah leave after nearly a decade. Alisson, another stalwart, is also being linked with the exit door at Anfield.

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