Arne Slot's private admission to friends as Liverpool make decision on manager's future

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Arne Slot is adamant he will turn it around at Liverpool , with Anfield bosses steadfastly behind their manager. The Dutchman is only 12 months’ removed from winning Liverpool’s 20th Premier League title, in what was his first season on Merseyside.

But after spending more than £400million in the summer window, the expectation was that the Reds would be fiercely competitive to win the league again. But that hasn’t been the case, with Liverpool trailing leaders Arsenal by 21 points and facing a fight to qualify for next season’s Champions League .

There has also been intense criticism of the performances of Slot’s team this term and they were booed heavily after drawing with Tottenham at Anfield last month.

That has all resulted in there being some speculation over Slot’s immediate future, particularly if this season ends poorly.

However, the Times report that the Liverpool hierarchy - including the club’s Sporting Director Richard Hughes and FSG’s Head of Football Michael Edwards - remain behind the manager and are desperate for him to emerge from the struggles.

It is understood that there is an acceptance that a number of factors out of the manager’s control have worked against him this season.

Liverpool spent big on the signings of Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, but have played together for less than 90 minutes all season. Wirtz has struggled for form in his first season in English football, while Isak suffered a broken leg in December and is racing to return at all before the end of the season.

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Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong were also recruited in the summer, but have failed to immediately live up to their potential.

There have also been absences for Alisson in goal, while Conor Bradley, who was earmarked as Trent Alexander-Arnold ’s replacement - has missed the majority of the campaign.

The tragic death of Diogo Jota last summer has also - understandably - left a lasting impact on the players.

For all of those issues, FSG want to give Slot the time to right the wrongs of 25/26 and think that he will emerge stronger for them. Slot himself is also confident he will arrest the slump, privately telling friends that he believes he can turn it around.

Nevertheless, Slot needs a strong end to the season to retain the support of fans and faces a pivotal month across three competitions.

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On Saturday, Liverpool face Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter finals. Four days later, is the first leg of their Champions League last-eight tie with holders Paris Saint-Germain.

And while a domestic cup wouldn’t erase all of their league struggles, guiding the Reds to their seventh European Cup likely would.

They then have three more Premier League fixtures before the start of May, including a Merseyside Derby with Everton - who now sit just three points behind them in the league table.