What Danny Murphy Actually Thinks About Liverpool Getting Rid of Arne Slot

Danny Murphy, former Liverpool midfielder and Match of the Day pundit, has not called for Arne Slot's sacking despite the Reds' dismal form. In recent analyses, Murphy urges Slot to make bold decisions on key players to salvage the season, rather than advocating his dismissal[1][5].

Liverpool, last season's champions, are in freefall: an 3-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest marked their eighth defeat in 11 games, dropping them to 11th in the Premier League, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal[1]. Despite heavy summer spending, the title defense is crumbling, with fans and media piling on pressure[1].

On BBC's Match of the Day, Murphy dissected the crisis: "The expectations are elevated because the financial outlay is considerable, even for Liverpool. Slot is going to face a lot of criticism... but many players also need to reflect."[1] He praised only Domin Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and occasionally Andy Robertson for matching last year's levels, slamming the rest for underperforming[1].

Murphy stresses accountability lies with the squad, not just Slot: "He is the manager and must accept some accountability, but... returning to fundamentals is essential. They need to improve their defense, increase their work rate, be more aggressive."[1] He warns Slot's impressive inaugural title-winning record could turn "irrelevant" if results don't improve, amid "relegation form"[2][3]. Yet, no outright calls to axe him—Murphy believes Slot, a "bright" and "clever manager," must sideline big names for stability and compactness[1][2][5].

Discussing with Joe Hart, Murphy noted inconsistencies: Liverpool battered Real Madrid recently but lack balance, with too many "off it" players[5]. In a podcast with Simon Jordan, he highlighted must-win games against Sunderland and Leeds, predicting fan unrest if dropped points mount, but stopping short of predicting Slot's doom[4].

The article clarifies Murphy's nuanced view: fix the squad dynamics first, not fire the boss. Liverpool's revival hinges on Slot's "huge decisions," not knee-jerk changes[1][5]. (298 words)