Alan Shearer believes it is do-or-die for Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes this weekend when they host Aston Villa as they look to arrest a four-game losing streak in the competition.
The Premier League champions’ bright start to their title defence has been derailed the past five weeks with successive defeats by Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Manchester United and Brentford.
After beating Everton on September 20, the Reds were five points clear with a 100 per cent record in the top flight. Now they sit seventh, seven points behind league leaders Arsenal.
Liverpool face an in-form Villa side who have won their last four Premier League matches – including an impressive 2-1 win at Tottenham and 1-0 triumph over Manchester City in their two most recent matches.
And Shearer believes if they don’t beat Villa then Arne Slot’s side can kiss goodbye to winning the league once again next May.
‘If they lose on Saturday, I don’t see them in the title race,’ he told Betfair.
Liverpool will be out of the Premier League title race if they lose on Saturday, says Alan Shearer
Liverpool host an in-form Aston Villa who have won their last four Premier League matches
‘If they win, build confidence, they’ve still got the quality to go on a big run. Saturday evening is huge – another defeat, and I think they’re out of it.’
Pressure is mounting on the Reds who have lost six of their last seven matches in all competitions – including a tame 3-0 home defeat by Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
The poor run has led to some speculating about Slot’s future, but Shearer is adamant any of that is nonsense after he guiding them to the title in his first season in charge just months ago.
‘In terms of Arne Slot losing his job – yes, without a doubt it’s an overreaction,’ he continued.
‘He did a great job last year. I know he came into a very good football club with some excellent players, and they didn’t add a lot to it, hardly anything, really. But he still did a great job last year, and obviously Liverpool are really struggling now.
‘I wouldn’t say crisis just yet – but they’re in a very sticky situation. We might have to use the word crisis if Villa beat them at Anfield on Saturday. For now, I’d say it’s a sticky situation rather than a full-blown crisis.
‘I thought it was a huge gamble that backfired against Palace. Having said that, if they win on Saturday and again on Tuesday, then from his point of view it could prove to be the right decision – because the Carabao Cup would have been low on the priority list.
‘But when you’re a club already struggling and desperately in need of a result, it’s risky to put out that sort of side and those substitutes. If you lose narrowly say 1–0 to a dodgy decision – fine. But when you’re battered at home and Palace fans are singing “Can we play you every week?”, that’s damaging.
Arne Slot is under-pressure with his Liverpool side having lost six of their last seven games
Despite their poor run of form, Shearer is confident that Slot’s job is not under threat
‘We won’t know the full extent of the fallout until after Saturday evening’s result. It’s put more pressure on the players who’ll come back in for the Villa game at Anfield. If they win, he’ll say it was the right decision – but they have to win now after that selection.
‘If they lose on Saturday, I don’t see them in the title race. If they win, build confidence, they’ve still got the quality to go on a big run. Saturday evening is huge – another defeat, and I think they’re out of it.’
