Under-fire Liverpool boss Arne Slot says everyone at the club is aligned amid a difficult season – and insists he does feel backed by the hierarchy.
The Reds have had a bruising week where they were knocked out of the FA Cup in a 4-0 loss at Manchester City then left themselves with a mountain to climb in the Champions League having lost 2-0 in the first leg at Paris Saint-Germain.
It has seen negative noise around Slot’s future reach a crescendo but the head coach is adamant he feels support from above.
‘I don’t know what people are writing, but I think we all see the same,’ he said.
‘By that I mean the ownership, Richard (Hughes, sporting director), Michael (Edwards, head of football at owners Fenway Sports Group), everyone.
‘Everyone sees what is happening in front of our eyes and we are all aligned in what we are seeing. We are definitely aligned in what we are seeing and on the reasons for it.
Arne Slot insists there remains full alignment at Liverpool despite their difficult season
‘I can come up with all the reasons why this season has been so difficult, that is why we are aligned. Everyone can see them so why should I always tell them (the reasons) as that becomes making excuses and it is not good to make excuses.
‘They are so clear and obvious that everyone can see them. If you don’t want to see them for reasons, no problem. But it is so obvious and so clear, it is not difficult to see all the problems we faced.’
Slot could be referring to injuries, being unable to put chances away, new signings taking time to gel and other off-the-pitch factors as reasons why Liverpool have struggled this year.
The club have retained a backing for Slot throughout this tricky season and the head coach has been part of recruitment meetings for next year. The Dutchman is currently contracted until summer 2027.
Slot added: ‘I am repeating myself a lot but I have said many times I feel a lot of support not only from the owners but from Richard and Michael as well, and as weird as it might sound I also feel the support of the fans,’ he said.
‘We were going out in Paris when the players went out for the warm-up and the fans after a 4-0 loss (at City) immediately started singing “We love you Liverpool”.
‘And after it’s fair to say we were outplayed for over 90 minutes we went to the away end and they were still singing for us and clapping for us.
‘That support, I have felt, we have felt constantly. I’ve said many times as well that the club knows which period of time we are in, and in the meantime I have their complete support.’
Slot also hailed Andy Robertson, who will leave at the end of the season, as a great player and great person – but insists Liverpool do not need to sign experience this summer after losing both the Scotland captain and Mohamed Salah.
‘Our model is completely clear,’ he said. ‘That is not to say we cannot make an exception because the club signed Wataru Endo and maybe Federico Chiesa was a little bit above the age we usually sign.
‘I don’t think that if this club has been successful the way we are having, we are going to change our model completely after a season that has not been so great. Especially because in the 16 years they are here, they have not won the league 16 times.
‘There were more seasons where results were not as expected but they have always kept the same model which I signed for, which Richard signed for and which we are all aligned for.’
Liverpool will be without Alisson for the visit of Fulham on Saturday but Alexander Isak is ready for more minutes. They are hopeful their goalkeeper can return before the end of April.
