Arne Slot given final chance as Liverpool hit 17 losses

April 9, 2026 Oliver Obel

Liverpool’s Champions League campaign and potentially Arne Slot’s future now hangs in the balance after a damaging defeat in Paris.

The 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their quarter-final has intensified scrutiny on the Liverpool manager, capping off a difficult stretch that has raised broader concerns about the team’s direction.

The result followed a heavy 4-0 exit to Manchester City in the FA Cup, meaning Liverpool have now suffered 17 defeats across all competitions this season their highest total since 2014/15.

While the immediate focus is on overturning the deficit at Anfield, questions are increasingly being asked about whether Slot can steady the club longer term.

According to reporting from The Athletic, Liverpool’s ownership group, Fenway Sports Group, are not yet ready to make a managerial change. Instead, they are prepared to give Slot an opportunity to salvage the season.

However, that patience appears conditional. The report suggests progress in the Champions League could prove निर्णतive in determining whether he remains in charge, effectively placing significant weight on the second leg against PSG.

Slot himself has attempted to downplay suggestions that his position is under immediate threat. Speaking before the first leg, he pointed to the level of opposition his side has faced.

“I don’t think as a manager you think about what can happen, and if that ramps up the pressure, towards me or towards anyone else,” he said.

He also described the challenge posed by PSG’s style of play, adding: “I said today to the boys [Paris Saint Germain] they are almost like a washing machine. They just run everywhere but controlled and knowing from each other what to do.”

Before turning their attention back to Europe, Liverpool face Fulham in the Premier League a fixture that may do little to shift the wider narrative surrounding the club.

Instead, focus is already building toward the return leg at Anfield, where the stakes extend beyond qualification. The outcome could shape not only Liverpool’s season, but also the leadership guiding it.

Sources: The Athletic