Emile Heskey has performed a dramatic Uturn on Arne Slot’s future, admitting he wouldn’t be shocked if Liverpool pulled the trigger on their Dutch manager.
Just months after insisting the club should stand by Slot and give him time, the former Reds striker has now conceded there are better coaches out there. And the £450million summer spend makes it worse.
Liverpool’s title defence has been a disaster. No silverware. A top five finish at best. And even that isn’t certain yet with a crunch clash against Aston Villa looming.
Pressure is mounting. And Heskey has noticed.
‘It’s a tough watch’
Speaking on In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet, Heskey didn’t hold back.
“Look, it’s difficult to sack someone off the back of winning the league. It’s difficult,” he said.
“But when you’ve spent that sort of money and the football is not quite where you believe it should be… To lose that many games in a season as well. It’s tough. It’s a tough watch.”
That’s the killer line. A tough watch. For a club that was built on “gung ho, rock and roll” football under Jurgen Klopp, Slot’s slower, more methodical approach has jarred.
“You miss certain things when they’ve gone,” Heskey added. “For me, [Sadio] Mane and then you had Luis Diaz come in and now he’s gone.”
The U turn
Heskey’s previous position was clear: back Slot, don’t sack him “ridiculously.” Now? He’s shifted.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they did it (sacked Slot) in the sense that there are managers out there that could probably fit the system that they want.”
That’s a remarkable change of tune.
What Slot has said
The Dutchman was asked last month whether he could regain the supporters’ trust.
“Yeah, I do. Not this season, by the way. This season they have their opinion and it will not change.”
He’s banking on the summer. A clear out. New signings. A reset.
“If we can have the summer we are planning to have… I am 100 per cent convinced we will be a different team next season than we are now. Different in terms of results, different in how things look.”
The bottom line
Liverpool have two games left. Villa away. Brentford at home. Secure Champions League football, and Slot might buy himself time.
But Heskey’s words will sting. A club legend, no less. And he’s not alone in his thinking.
The board spent £450million. The football is laboured. The trophies cabinet is empty.
Slot promised a different team next season. He might not get the chance to deliver.
