Arne Slot insists he has “every reason” to believe he will be Liverpool manager next season.
The Merseysiders have had a disappointing year, failing to back up their title success of 2024/25 and not really challenging in any of the cup competitions.
That has inevitably led to speculation around the Dutchman’s future but Slot is confident he will be in charge come August.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow night’s trip to Aston Villa, he said: “I don’t think I am deciding that alone but I have every reason to believe I am the Liverpool manager next season. First of all I am contracted to the club and second of all from all the talks we are having. That is my take on it.
“I think the world has gone to [a place] where if a manager or a club doesn’t have the best season, there is always a debate. That is all around the world, not only at Liverpool. That is the new reality in football.
“It is not up to me to judge the people who judge me. They have every right to have their opinion.
“This happened 10, 15 years ago as well but [back then] you did it in the pub and not everyone heard it. Now it is probably also in the pub; if I read what they are saying, they must have been drinking a little bit!
“It is more out in the open. I would have been surprised if that was different here at Liverpool.”
Liverpool fans need to back Alisson whatever happens – Slot
Liverpool spent heavily last summer on the likes of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz but another period of churn is expected with Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah leaving and uncertainty surrounding the future of goalkeeper Alisson.
Brazil international Alisson is a reported target for Juventus but Slot claimed he knew little of any potential deal, adding: “I am reading the same things as you are probably reading but it is not what I would talk about here. I think our fans need to support Alisson, no matter if it is his last game or if it was his first game – that is what they have always done. If he is in goal tomorrow or next week, our fans will support him. The same goes for next season.”
Robertson will definitely go, however, and ahead of his final away game as a Liverpool player, Slot paid tribute to the long-serving Scotland full-back.
“He is maybe one of the players that changed that position in to a player that constantly goes up and down,” he said.
“We all remember that clip where he starts to press from left-back and ends up on the right wing, and then goes again. I think many, many managers showed that clip to their players, me included, to show the mentality and intensity he plays with.
“He is a great human being. I have experienced that and I think every fan recognises that, whether that is social media posts or in other moments. He always gives his best on and off the pitch. He has been very influential on the pitch and definitely in the dressing room.”
Away-day woes have held Liverpool back – Slot
Liverpool have won just seven of their 18 Premier League away games this season, a persistent issue that means they are still not certain to clinch a place in the Champions League for next season.
They head to Villa Park four points above sixth-placed Bournemouth, although sixth could be enough if Villa beat Freiburg in the Europa League final.
“It [the away form] is one of the reasons why we are in the position we are in – and by that I mean we wanted to be doing better,” said Slot. “We have dropped far too many points in away games.
“Dropping points in away games mainly happens after European matches and usually in games that we are usually able to win. That has happened far too many times and it is one of the reasons why we have not yet qualified for the Champions League.
“The first challenge is to be fitter and more ready to play after Europe and I think we have progressed in that. Second of all, we have had many times in away games where we were in a good place after 70, 80 minutes, but dropped points in the last phase of the game.”
