Carragher warns Slot faces Liverpool reckoning over Champions League fight
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been told his position will become untenable if the Reds fail to qualify for the 2026-27 Champions League, with Jamie Carragher delivering a stark assessment of a season that has slipped badly off course.
Liverpool sit sixth in the Premier League and are struggling to mount a credible defence of last season’s title, leaving Slot under mounting pressure as the campaign enters a decisive phase.
The former Reds defender pointed to Liverpool’s league position and the scale of investment as reasons why excuses are running thin. Despite heavy spending and a squad rebuilt to compete at the top, the gap to leaders Arsenal has grown to 14 points, intensifying scrutiny on the manager.
The situation is compounded by unrest off the pitch. Slot’s public disagreement with Mohamed Salah late in 2025, when the forward accused his manager of throwing him under the bus, has added to speculation about dressing room tension and long-term stability.
Liverpool’s struggles matter because they follow a title-winning season and one of the club’s most aggressive transfer windows. The arrivals of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez were designed to future-proof the squad, yet performances have not matched ambition. With Champions League qualification now uncertain, the stakes around Slot’s future have risen sharply.
Anfield’s atmosphere has reflected that tension. Early matches this season carried expectation, but uncertainty has crept into performances. Liverpool have often started brightly before fading, with build-up play slowed by cautious opponents and a lack of cutting edge against compact defensive setups.
Carragher highlighted three recurring weaknesses in Liverpool’s play. Set pieces, counter-attacks and low blocks have repeatedly exposed Slot’s side, leaving them vulnerable against opponents happy to sit deep and strike quickly. Those flaws have turned routine fixtures into potential slip-ups.
Key moments have underlined the problem. Defensive lapses from dead-ball situations, missed chances in dominant spells and a lack of protection in transition have swung games away from Liverpool. Refereeing decisions have played a role at times, but structural issues have been harder to ignore.
Goals conceded this season have often followed the same pattern. Liverpool push numbers forward, lose possession, and are caught out by direct passes into space. At the other end, attacking moves break down when crosses are defended comfortably or shots are blocked in crowded penalty areas.
The second half of matches has frequently told the same story. Momentum shifts away from Liverpool as opponents grow in confidence, forcing Slot into tactical changes that have not always delivered the desired impact. Substitutions have brought energy but not consistency.
Late in games, anxiety has crept in. Dropped points against teams in the bottom half have left Liverpool chasing rather than controlling matches, increasing pressure on both players and manager as the final whistle approaches.
Carragher also warned that injuries at the back could derail the season entirely. With Liverpool short of defensive cover, he urged the club to accelerate plans to sign a defender rather than risk relying on an overstretched back line, especially with Virgil van Dijk so central to their stability.
Liverpool now turn their attention to the Champions League with Qarabag visiting Anfield before a demanding league clash against Newcastle. The coming weeks may define not only their season, but also whether Slot can steady the project or faces serious questions about his future at the club.