Arne Slot gets sack verdict with Jurgen Klopp favourite for shock return

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Adding to the concern is the fact that Liverpool’s poor form follows a £450 million summer investment in the squad.

The latest defeat marked Liverpool’s sixth loss in their last seven games across all competitions, including a 3-0 setback against Manchester City before the November international break.

With the spotlight firmly on Slot, several pundits have weighed in on his future at Anfield. Meanwhile, former Liverpool manager Klopp has once again been linked with a sensational return.

Criticism of Slot is mounting. Still, two high-profile pundits believe the Dutchman won’t be dismissed so soon after delivering a league title.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown is convinced that Slot’s job is safe for now. “We have to give credit to Forest for what they are doing but yes, the wheels are coming off now for Arne Slot,” Keown told Final Score after the game.

“Obviously, it was Jurgen Klopp’s team, and he has tried to come in and make changes, but he has spent £450million on players, and they are going backwards. They have simply been undone. Whether it’s a crisis I don’t know, it’s certainly a major problem for the manager to go six defeats from seven. Unthinkable.”

“I don’t think you can win the league one year and get sacked the next,” the former Arsenal defender added.

“It’s remarkable what we are seeing with Liverpool. Their fall from grace and to lose this many games at the start of the season, they are eight points behind top spot, it is unthinkable really from this time last season.”

Jamie Redknapp, a former Liverpool midfielder, shared a similar view on Sky Sports after the Forest match. He said: “I look at Liverpool now, this is what I expected to happen last season.

“After Jurgen Klopp leaving the club I thought it would have some negative effect on the team. There wasn’t. They did something absolutely extraordinary and won the league.

“Right now, I think it’s a time for patience because they’ll be people, pundits, everyone going crazy, [saying] ‘Sack the manager’. [Be] calm, take your time, make sure you assess it, it’s been the most difficult pre-season you can imagine for those players.”

The pressure on Slot is further amplified by the looming presence of Klopp. The German legend is currently the bookmakers’ top pick to replace Slot if Liverpool’s ownership decides to make a change.

Klopp is listed at odds as short as 2/1 to return, according to Sky Bet and Paddy Power, with other candidates including Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Aston Villa’s Unai Emery, and Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann.

Despite Klopp’s status as the frontrunner, there is no indication that Liverpool’s leadership is actively pursuing a managerial change.

Klopp’s remarks in October about a potential return to Anfield stirred speculation.

Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, when asked about a comeback, he said: “I said I would never coach a different team in England. So that means if, (I did return to England) then it’s Liverpool. Yeah, theoretically it’s possible.”

When asked what it would take for him to return, he replied: “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.

“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.”

The legendary former Liverpool manager is currently serving as the Global Head of Soccer for Red Bull’s football operations and recently joined an advisory panel for the German Football League (DFL).

He also voiced his support for Slot, adding: “He’s a super good guy. He got the best out of this team, and they became champions in an incredible manner.”