Arne Slot’s Future at Liverpool: A Season on the Brink

Arne Slot's tenure at Liverpool has entered a crucial, high-stakes phase. The Dutchman's long-term future is being severely tested by a dramatic slump in form and an unprecedented, public fallout with star player Mohamed Salah. What began as a smooth, triumphant transition from the Jürgen Klopp era has now evolved into a tense test of leadership, resilience, and long-term vision. December 2025 finds Slot facing the harshest scrutiny of his Anfield tenure, and his future at the club is on the brink of being terminated.

🎯 The Premise and Early Success

Arne Slot officially became Liverpool’s head coach on June 1, 2024, replacing long-time boss and club hero Jürgen Klopp. Slot’s early months at Liverpool were electric. His first season (2024/25) saw him deliver the Premier League title, equaling Klopp's record in just his inaugural season. This was a sensational achievement that instantly validated his tactical approach and won him widespread admiration. The club rewarded him with a contract running until June 2027. Many fans and pundits saw initial proof that the transition from the Klopp era was, at least initially, successful. He received widespread admiration from fans and was entrusted by the board with a record-breaking transfer window, which saw the club splash out on elite players such as Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez.

📉 Turbulence Ahead: The Crisis in Form

The 2025/26 season has taken a very different trajectory. They currently sit 10th in the Premier League, a far cry from their championship place last season. They have tumbled out of the Carabao Cup and seem certain to avoid any silverware this season. Defensive cracks, inconsistency in midfield, and a stale attacking dynamic have all contributed to a winter downturn few saw coming. Star signings have failed to impress, and veterans have fallen short of their usual form.

Perhaps more damaging than results, however, is the internal storm brewing around the club’s biggest superstar, Mohammed Salah.

⚔️ The Salah Rift: A Public Flashpoint

Slot’s relationship with Mohamed Salah has fractured in a spectacular and public fashion. Salah recently claimed he felt “thrown under the bus” by the manager’s decisions, leading to his exclusion from the Champions League matchday squad against Inter Milan. The public nature of the fallout has amplified pressure and raised uncomfortable questions about dressing-room harmony. Liverpool legends such as Jamie Carragher have weighed in on the issue, with Carragher calling out Salah's actions as "disgraceful". The unexpected, public nature of this fallout has thrown another wrench in Liverpool's woeful season. Slot’s admission that he has “no clue” whether Salah will play for Liverpool again only deepened the uncertainty surrounding the club’s talisman.

🏛️ Boardroom Backing: Firm, But Conditional

Despite the severe pressure and media speculation, with some pundits already discussing potential replacements, reliable reports indicate that the Liverpool hierarchy is "100% behind" their man, Arne Slot. FSG sees Slot as the architect of a long-term project, not a short-term solution, and believes this difficult stretch is part of the natural cycle of building a new era.

Despite their confidence in their manager, the board has imposed certain expectations. They expect a return to previous form, a restored unity amongst the squad and a renewed sense of identity that Slot and Liverpool displayed last season.

🌟 A Crucial Response: The Inter Milan Turning Point?

A recent 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League, secured without Salah and described as a "brilliant win," provided a much-needed moment of resilience. This win, achieved with a pragmatic and disciplined team performance, provided a crucial stabilising factor for Slot's authority. While the win was extremely narrow, only being sealed after a dubious penalty on Florian Wirtz, the performance suggested the dressing room remains committed to Arne Slot and changing their season around.

🔮 What Slot’s Future Might Look Like

Arne Slot’s future is poised on a knife-edge. He has already proven he can deliver silverware and oversee elite performances. To secure his long-term mandate, Slot must improve domestic league results quickly, rebuild internal harmony in the dressing room and resolve the Salah situation by decisive action. Ultimately, he must prove that Liverpool's current slump is a blip, not a permanent identity.

Slot is at a crossroads. He has delivered major success and earned the trust of the board and many players. But the current turbulence, poor results, and internal friction put him on a tightrope. This moment will likely define his Liverpool legacy. Navigate it successfully, and he could cement himself as the true successor to Klopp. Falter, and this turbulent winter may come to be seen as the beginning of the end.

Only time will tell if Arne Slot can rejuvenate this Liverpool side in order to save his tenure at Anfield.