Liverpool manager Arne Slot finds himself in increasingly turbulent waters as his team endures their most dismal results run in over seven decades.
Defiant stance amid growing pressure
The Dutch head coach has pledged to continue battling through Liverpool's dramatic slump, insisting he retains the backing of the club's hierarchy despite mounting criticism. Slot held crucial discussions with sporting director Richard Hughes on Thursday to analyse Wednesday's damaging Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
This loss marked Liverpool's ninth defeat in just twelve outings, equalling the club's worst sequence since the 1953-54 season. The alarming collapse in form has intensified scrutiny on Slot's position ahead of Sunday's Premier League encounter with West Ham United.
Crisis talks and unwavering support
Following the PSV setback, Slot acknowledged he needed to gauge the board's perspective in their subsequent meeting. However, during his pre-West Ham press conference, the embattled manager claimed the club's stance remained consistent with previous communications.
"We've had the same conversations as we've had since I'm here," Slot stated. "We fight on. We try to improve, that's what we all try, but the conversations have been the same as they've been for the past one and a half years."
The manager conceded that pressure is undoubtedly mounting given the historical significance of Liverpool's poor form, but he refused to blame player commitment or suggest morale had completely collapsed within the squad.
Recognising the breaking point
Slot did identify a concerning period during the PSV match where his players visibly struggled. "I didn't see morale being low at the start of the game or at 1-0 yesterday but after the third, fourth or fifth knock I saw a very difficult five to 10 minutes," he explained.
"We were able to generate enough chances at 2-1, after more knocks, to make it 2-2 but at 3-1 I could see it hurt the players and it wasn't a period where our fighting spirit was at its best, and that's putting it mildly."
As Liverpool prepares for their London trip, all eyes will be on whether Slot can orchestrate a much-needed turnaround to alleviate the growing pressure at Anfield.
