Liverpool legend John Barnes has insisted that his former club should ‘absolutely’ keep Arne Slot as head coach to avoid following in the footsteps of their rivals Manchester United.
Only a year ago, Slot was hailed as the ‘new Bob Paisley’ after winning the Premier League in his very first season at Anfield, after succeeding the messianic figure of Jurgen Klopp, the Bill Shankly of Liverpool’s modern era.
However, his second season at the helm proved to be a disaster, with the Reds’ laboured title defence one of the weakest in top-flight history. They finished 24 points shy of their title-winning tally, their lowest return in a decade.
And while they still managed to scrape Champions League football due to the competitive nature of the division – leading to lower points tallies – calls from the fans for Slot to be sacked are ever-increasing.
But Barnes, who won two league titles during 10 years at Liverpool, doesn’t believe it would be wise for the club to part ways with the Dutchman, given the lack of managers on the current market.
The 62-year-old said: ‘When people talk about getting rid of Arne Slot, tell me who should come in and who would do a better job. Xabi Alonso may have not worked. Luis Enrique? He’s not coming to Liverpool.
Arne Slot is under pressure after Liverpool limped to 60 points in his second season at the club
John Barnes believes that Liverpool should stick with Slot despite the 24-point drop-off
‘Bring back Jurgen Klopp? He’s not coming back, so when fans talk about getting anybody, they will go down the route of what Manchester United have done.
‘Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson left, they got David Moyes because he was a good manager and he was let go because there was a belief that what happened under him wouldn’t have happened under Fergie.
‘Then all of a sudden Louis van Gaal came in, who had won the Champions League twice, and then it was Jose Mourinho.
‘We can’t keep living in the past and going from manager to manager because what happened after Kenny Dalglish left Liverpool? The Liverpool way changed and every manager who came after Kenny was told that the Liverpool way wasn’t this way, then Jurgen came in and everybody wanted it his way.
‘So if we want a manager that’s going to be subservient to Jurgen’s way and what Jurgen did, then no manager is going to come. I don’t want Liverpool to go down the route that Manchester United did.
‘Luis Enrique? I don’t think he’s coming. Pep Guardiola? He’s not coming, so the whole idea of getting rid of Arne Slot doesn’t make sense to me.’
One manager who is on the market is Andoni Iraola, following the end of his three-season stay at Bournemouth.
The Spaniard is hot property after guiding the Cherries to the Europa League for the first time in the club’s history, as they finished just three points behind Liverpool in sixth.
Rumours have been swirling surrounding Iraola’s future, with Bayer Leverkusen said to be in talks with the coach regarding their vacant managerial position. The Reds have also been linked with him, as have Crystal Palace and Serie A giants AC Milan.
Andoni Iraola has been linked with the Reds after leaving his post at Bournemouth
However, Barnes isn’t convinced that Iraola would be the right man to take the reins at Anfield, should Slot depart.
Barnes, who was speaking on behalf of Betfred, added: ‘Remember Thomas Frank at Brentford? He did very well, didn’t he? Then he went to a bigger club where the expectations were higher.
‘It’s easier at a smaller club and that’s not me saying he can’t do the job, but not having much possession, sitting back and catching teams on the counter-attack is maybe suited to smaller clubs, then when you’re asked to play an expansive game, which Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United are asked to do, that transition can be difficult for some managers.
‘Teams so often look and go ‘Who’s done well for six months…we’re going to get him’, so I’m sure he’s a great manager, but there isn’t a 100 per cent guarantee that he’ll do well. I’ll support anybody that manages Liverpool 100 per cent, but I’m still an Arne Slot fan.’
