Steven Gerrard believes Arne Slot deserves more time and patience at Liverpool, despite growing criticism of the Dutch manager.
Despite winning the title in his debut year, Arne Slot is under immense pressure following a disastrous campaign as Liverpool continue their struggle for consistency in the Premier League. As the season draws to an end, a string of underwhelming performances has left the club fighting just to secure a spot in the Champions League.
While appearing on "The Overlap" podcast, Gerrard threw his support behind Slot, making it clear that he stands by the manager even as some fans call for a change.
Steven Gerrard Gives His Verdict on Arne Slot’s Future
Photo by Cem Tekkesinoglu/Anadolu via Getty Images
Liverpool is entering a crucial stretch of games across the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. While reports suggest that Fenway Sports Group, the club's American owners, remain in full support of Arne Slot, missing out on the Champions League would undoubtedly put their patience to the test.
Amid all the criticism, Gerrard has come out in support of the Dutchman arguing that the under-fire manager still has some breathing room, thanks to the credit he earned by winning the Premier League title last season.
“He has [got credit in the bank] with me because more than anyone on the planet, I know how difficult it is to win a league,” said Gerrard.
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While Xabi Alonso, another Liverpool legend, has been heavily linked to replace Slot, Gerrard believes Arne Slot should be given more time to turn things around, despite the team's lackluster performance this year.
"I think he did during that period, a few months ago where they’d lost nine out of 12, and then they went on a run where he took them from 12th to fourth in the league," Gerrard said. "I think someone who has won a league deserves at least a full season to try and get out of the problems and issues that they’ve got, I’m certainly one of them."
The final stretch of the season will be a true test for Arne Slot, starting with an FA Cup clash against Manchester City on Saturday, followed by a trip to France for the first leg of their Champions League tie with PSG.
If Liverpool can navigate these fixtures with solid results, it would go a long way in relieving the pressure currently sitting on the manager's shoulders.
