Liverpool FC - Talk /Gossip/Rumours 25/25

Girly Gal · 21-04-2026 03:09PM

I think it's less likely that Slot goes over the summer if as looks likely we get CL, I'm kinda resigned to that fact, as it's the easy decision for the club, if that does happen I think we'll end up regretting it, as we have regressed hughly this season and there has been no real progress made in any area of the team, I wouldn't mind our current position if I could see progress or a clear plan in place, but, there isn't. I can't see us seriously challenging for the major honours next year, as it will be another transitional season, but, we really do need see real progress next season ( whoever is in charge) and get stronger as the season goes on. We are lucky so many other teams are not performing this season, but, we can't depend on that next season. We really should be comfortably in the top 3, and certainly not scrabbling for top 5.

Libertine07 · 21-04-2026 03:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124411745#Comment_124411745

Agreed.

The worry is what happens if (or more likely when) we're still **** in November and there are no decent alternatives on the market?

We'll probably have one of the lowest ever points totals to qualify for CL, if we scrape through it's down to luck more than anything.

brevity · 21-04-2026 03:21PM

If Slot stays, I cannot see that we will be as bad as we were this year. The style of football has been poor but I think if we sign the right wingers and a defensive midfielder, then we will look better.

It remains to be seen if people will be happy with the reduced amount of pressing that Slot seems to prefer.

Girly Gal · 21-04-2026 03:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124411750#Comment_124411750

Expectations will certainly be lower for next season anyway, still holding out some hope that Slot will go over the summer, but, can certainly see the club holding onto him.

mayordenis · 21-04-2026 04:43PM

Diaz -Isak
Nunez - Wirtz
Jota - Ekitike
Quansah - Leoni
Doak
Kelleher - Mamardashvili
Trent - Frimpong
Morton
Tsimikas - Kerkez
Elliott

Salah
Robertson

As I see it, that was our main outs and ins last summer, and then I'm adding Salah and Robertson who 100% won't be with us next season, there's others who will be likely to leave but not 100% yet.

Firstly, I'd accept Morton had little impact and Doak wasn't at the club, Elliott was used sparingly. The next note, would be that we already were operating with a tight squad last year, tighter again when you look at say Gomez and Chiesa who were rarely available. Their availability has been much better this year, but that is in part down to the fact they are rarely used.

Of the signings, only Kerkez has remained fit all season, the rest have all missed games, with 4 of them missing fairly massive chunks of the season, and Hugo due to miss at least half of the next campaign.

Based on nothing, I think we were already a few bodies light last season, we are a few bodies lighter this season, and before any more sales, we are another 2 bodies lighter going into next year. Jeremy Jacquet is coming in, that helps, though what his preseason looks like I'm not so sure. Himself, Leoni, Konate and VVD certainly are on paper and excellent group, totally unclear what the future holds for Joemez. Still leaves us needing about 4 more signings before sales to get a strong squad together. As much as I'm very uncertain about Slot, the squad composition is the absolute killer at the moment.

JimboJones99 · 21-04-2026 04:50PM

They will keep Slot once he achieves CL after a mediocre uninspiring season, where to be fair he has had some excuses with injuries, but I have not seen any spark that suggests things will improve. This smells a lot like Brendan Rogers in his last season all over again. Slot will make some changes to the backroom team, sign a few new players and everyone will think (hope) that this will have the desired effect but in reality nothing will change and he will be gone by October to be replaced by a manager who will not have had a preseason to implement his ideas setting us further back.

FSG just need to accept that it has gone stale and there is no way back. They should thank Arne for the unbelievable memories he gave us last season and give him a hero's welcome any time he graces Anfield again.

cj maxx · 21-04-2026 04:53PM

Funnily I 'm expecting a much improved season . If next year , the team are still so unfit and disjointed then goodbye Arne . But it's a championship winning team with alot of good young players that we spent a fortune on .

This will be the most important preseason in years .

awec · 21-04-2026 04:54PM

One huge problem is Slot is going into his final year. Giving him a renewal is a huge risk.

I think a lame duck manager is in a very weak position, it's very difficult for them to maintain authority within the squad. Even subconsciously the squad will know that they can just wait him out if things aren't going well.

And he'll also have a good bit of his focus on figuring out where he'll be in 27/28. There'll be even more of a running commentary week-to-week on whether or not he's staying.

For me, if he does stay, he has until mid-October. Next season we need to be back to challenging for the title. The excuses for crap football and crap results are over, we've used them all up.

Libertine07 · 21-04-2026 05:02PM

It's being widely reported now that he's staying next season. I think the only thing that might change that is if we totally collapse in the last five games and somehow miss out on CL.

Very concerning but it is what it is.

Fitz* · 21-04-2026 05:10PM

If the club (Edwards/Hughes) were actually serious about keeping Slot at the club, there would be a contract renewal on the table, not the same repeated backhanded briefings to the press about him staying.

mormank · 21-04-2026 05:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124411982#Comment_124411982

I can't see us challenging for a title next season regardless of who the manager is tbh. We just don't have the team or squad for it anymore. Alli and Van Dijk are coming to the end of their careers and have been quite possibly the 2 most important members of our title challenging teams over the past decade or so.

Alli misses 20+ games a season already and will only be a year older next season whereas Van Dijk has been almost imperious for availability over his time with us he can't be expected to play every minute of every game again next season, especially with the world cup this summer.

It was those 2 who made us genuine challengers in the first place and I think the demise of those 2 will see us fall out of challenging tbh.

Libertine07 · 21-04-2026 05:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124412013#Comment_124412013

People keep saying this but it's quite obvious now that he's staying. The sheer volume and strength of the briefings makes that pretty clear, and it has ramped up again today.

The club can easily renew him in the summer, we heard nothing about Gravenberch's contract until it was announced.

I think anyone holding out for a change at this point is going to be sorely disappointed.

Appletart Upsetter · 21-04-2026 05:25PM

I can see new contracts for Hughes and Slot being announced in the summer.

It resolves uncertainty going into the new season. In the case of Slot, it will have the usual caveats around performance so if they need to make a change it won't involve paying out the full term of the contract.

giveitholly · 21-04-2026 05:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124412036#Comment_124412036

Why is it quite obvious he is staying? All the media are running with the same story which was leaked on purpose by the club i reckon. Tbh nobody knows if he will be there next season. We will only know that for certain if someone from the club actually says it or if Slot is offered a contract. Everything else after that is pure speculation.

And anyone using sky sports as a barometer as to what is going on would want to give their head a wobble.

Fitz* · 21-04-2026 06:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124412036#Comment_124412036

I don't see any volume or strength in any of those reports. I see the same one story repeated multiple times across different weeks. There is nothing new being told.

The fact that a coordinated brief came out through the usual outlets at the same time says it all for me.

If the club had full faith in Slot, they wouldn't need to be briefing the press that. Actions speak louder than words. The club didn't go telling the press that they wanted to keep Salah & VVD last season, they just offered new deals. They didn't do co-ordinated briefings about Konate's contract this year, they are just doing it. Where is Slot's new contract?

Appletart Upsetter · 21-04-2026 06:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124412123#Comment_124412123

Of course it's speculation.

I'm speculating he will be here next season based on various things I've seen written.

Other opinions are valid. But they're just speculative also. We'll find out in the summer one way or the other.

Libertine07 · 21-04-2026 06:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124412123#Comment_124412123

It's not just Sky Sports, a lot of very reliable journalists have been saying it for some time now. Is it possible that the club is spinning them a yarn? Sure. But knowing what we do about how this club tends to operate, combined with the fact that we're very likely to qualify for the CL now, that points overwhelmingly in one direction for me.

I would love to be wrong.

Libertine07 · 21-04-2026 06:53PM

Slot's new contract could easily be offered in the summer. There is also the possibility that they let him go into the final year of his current contract alongside Edwards and Hughes. I don't think that's the sensible option but it's not impossible.

The volume of briefings is the sheer amount of them over the last few weeks/months. The strength is the reliability of the journalists, and the kind of detail they're being told. Things like "Slot is still the outstanding candidate and would come top of the list if LFC were looking to recruit now", attempts to play down Alonso's achievements, even that tone deaf round table they released a while back which was a clear show of support.

I don't think they would go to these lengths if they were planning to sack him.

Edit - meant to quote Fitz here.

theoneeyedman · 21-04-2026 07:59PM

Genuine question-is there a standard condition on EPL managers where they either can't be sacked or are entitled to a renewal if the team qualifies for the Champions League. I recall the likes of Moyes, Van Gaal and some more arinkin the place out and as soon as champions League qualification was gone,so qwew they.

Anyway, seems like the club are breifing on this,and Arne is staying. I don't agree with that myself,but so what . What is ve saying though is that the backroom team needs a big shake up. The coaching of this team has been woefully bad, both in-game and during the week IMHO, there is neither head nor tail to what we're doing,and it's not improving.

Whatever happens,there has to be a major change in approach

amandstu · 21-04-2026 08:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124411745#Comment_124411745

Liverpool weren't so great last year.All the other Premiership teams were even worse, though and more or less handed Liverpool the title.

Dreadful run of injuries this year (last year injuries were minimal) and will be very lucky to get 5th spot or higher.

I think Slot will have learned a lot from this season and Liverpool will again be in the running for the title next year ,all things being even.

WealthyB · 21-04-2026 08:10PM

Summer 2015

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/exclusive-werner-liverpool-fc-decided-9815219

September 2015

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/605317/Liverpool-owners-Fenway-Sports-Group-Brendan-Rodgers-Manchester-United

October 2015

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/34423344

BorneTobyWilde · 21-04-2026 08:17PM

The fact Slot openly admitted he got swayed by a pundits opinion is reason he needs to go

We won first 5, attack attack attack

Carra ''' Liverpool are far to open''

Boom, bore fest starts

Slot '' now everyone says we're boring, I shouldn't have listened to you Carra ''

No s h i t

Any manager that totally abandons his whole way of playing and thinking is a weak manager

Appletart Upsetter · 21-04-2026 08:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124412396#Comment_124412396

It would not be a shock to see it play out again like that with Slot.

But I'm hopeful with the right signings we would be much more competitive next season.

Electric Nitwit · 21-04-2026 08:40PM

Brighton closer to us than Chelsea if they see this out!

WealthyB · 21-04-2026 09:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124412444#Comment_124412444

I've said before I admire your optimism mate, and you're a level head round here.. But I can't ignore how many players have regressed this season under Slot; Wirtz is not a midfielder and never was, the same way Bobby Firmino was never a wing back (I still to this day cannot believe Rodgers did that against Utd!). Salah hasn't dropped off a cliff, he had a patch of poor form in a system that clearly doesn't suit him. I could go on and on.. My ultimate point is I don't think throwing money at this fixes things, I think a better manager gets a better tune of out of the current squad and I pray the higher ups aren't stuck in a sunk cost fallacy mindset.