The common view in experts is that coach Arne Slot is subject to stricter scrutiny simply because he is not Jurgen Klopp. That is somewhat ironic, because that scrutiny appears in the context that Slot is actually doing slightly better than Klopp in the Premier League title defense season.
After winning the only Premier League title in his career in the 2019-2020 season, Klopp only got 46 points after 29 matches in the following season. Meanwhile, Slot's Liverpool currently has 48 points after the same number of matches.
At the same time as the 2020-2021 season, Liverpool under Klopp was eliminated from the FA Cup, while Slot's team still had a chance to go far and prepare to enter the 5th round with a away trip to Molineux.
In that season's Champions League, Klopp's Liverpool defeated RB Leipzig in the round of 16 but then stopped before Real Madrid in the quarter-finals. Next week, Slot's Liverpool will travel to Istanbul to play the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Galatasaray.
In the Premier League season 2020-2021, Klopp's "Reds" ended the season with a 5-game winning streak to win tickets to the Champions League, but in total they only achieved 69 points - a not too impressive number.
Of course, there are always objective factors. Klopp then faced a serious injury list and difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including playing in stadiums without spectators.
However, Slot also has his own difficult circumstances. He has to manage with a long injury list, and at the same time try to stabilize the morale of the whole team after the big shock when Diogo Jota suddenly left.
However, doubts about Slot's future are still increasing. The strong breakthrough at the end of the season helped Klopp's Liverpool finish third that year and win a ticket to the Champions League. But even if they did not achieve that goal, there has never been any sign that the German coach is at risk of being sacked.
Conversely, at the present time, rumors about Slot losing his seat are appearing more and more. If Liverpool does not win the Champions League and cannot finish in the Champions League group - that is, does not enter the top 5 of the Premier League - then the board of directors' decision to part ways with Slot after the season will not be surprising. However, it will still be a very harsh prospect.
When it comes to Slot's future, there are two almost unavoidable words: Xabi Alonso. The Spanish strategist was sacked by Real Madrid in early January and has since not been seriously contacted with any team.
At the same time, Slot's contract situation at Anfield has also not made progress. Winning the Premier League title in the first year of a 3-year contract usually helps a coach get a contract extension, but that did not happen last summer.
And the possibility of a new agreement being signed from now until the end of the season is not high. When Slot's contract is only one year left and Alonso is currently free, changing the coach will not be too costly a decision for Liverpool's leadership.
After an impressive first season - especially considering the difficulties he faced - being sacked will certainly be a bitter ending for Slot. However, at this point, that scenario is becoming more and more visual.
