Arne Slot is being very harshly judged but the figure of Xabi Alonso is looming larger
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There are plenty of mitigating circumstances for Liverpool's disappointing Premier League title defence but the pressure is mounting on the Dutch manager after the defeat at WolvesCommon footballing consensus is that Arne Slot suffers extra critical scrutiny because he is not Jurgen Klopp. Which is a touch ironic because extra critical scrutiny shows that Slot is currently doing a little better in a season when defending a Premier League title than Klopp did in 2020/21.After winning his one and only Premier League in 19/20, Klopp had Liverpool on 46 points after 29 matches of the following campaign.
After 29 matches of this campaign, Slot has Liverpool on 48 points.At this point in the 20/21 season, Klopp’s Liverpool were out of the FA Cup while Slot’s Liverpool are looking forward to a fifth round tie at Molineux on Friday night. Klopp’s Liverpool of 20/21 beat RB Leipzig in the last 16 of the Champions League but went out to Real Madrid at the quarter-final stage.READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk points finger after Liverpool fall to embarrassing Wolves defeatREAD MORE: Steven Gerrard singles out Liverpool star who needs to be dropped - with replacement clearNext week, Slot’s Liverpool go to Istanbul for the first leg of their last-16 tie against Galatasaray.
He has also had to comfort and rally a squad that was deeply affected by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.The late Premier League surge meant Klopp’s class of 20/21 finished third and qualified for the Champions League but even if they had not, there was never any suggestion the German would be sacked. There are plenty suggesting Slot will be sacked.If Liverpool do not win the Champions League and finish outside the qualification spots - not in the Premier League’s top five - then many could understand a boardroom decision to thank Slot for his sterling efforts and make a change.