Podcast Summary: The Athletic FC Podcast
Episode: Ask Ornstein: Is Slot's Job Safe?
Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Ayo Akimolere
Guests: David Ornstein (Football Correspondent), Tim Spears (Reporter), James Pearce (Liverpool Writer)
Overview
This episode tackles the turbulence at Liverpool FC following a costly transfer window and a sharp performance downturn under Arne Slot. The panel analyzes Liverpool's slide, squad issues, managerial question marks, and implications for Slot's future. It also shifts the focus to Premier League transfers, including Wolves, Fulham, and Aston Villa.
Liverpool in Crisis
Bournemouth Defeat and Unraveling Form
(02:35-05:51)
- Liverpool's 13-game unbeaten run ended by Bournemouth in a 3-2 defeat.
- James Pearce: “When Liverpool have dropped points during that unbeaten run, it's tended to be against teams that sit deep… it was a very open game at Bournemouth... last 10 minutes they fell to pieces.” (03:17)
- Chronic defensive issues, especially at set-pieces; fatigue evident after a midweek European game.
Excuses or Exposed? Depth and Transfer Spend
(04:17-05:51)
- Ornstein: “They are thin in number in quality. It’s pretty remarkable given the summer outlay... their net spend is nowhere near as significant as the gross spend.” (04:33)
- Liverpool are saving ammunition for summer recruitment despite clear needs now, especially at centre-back and in attack.
Season in Numbers: A Major Regression
(05:51-07:21)
- Tim Spears: “The weekend was their 23rd game... they’re now on 36 points.… That just sort of put into context just how bad it's been. 20 points is a huge amount.” (05:59)
- Five league wins since September, 21 points from 18 games—“remarkable and disastrous numbers.”
- Next fixtures are tough: Newcastle, City, Sunderland.
Early Problems and Squad Inheritance
(07:21-09:16)
- Ornstein: Issues were clear on opening night: “There were holes all over the Liverpool team.… Even when they were winning matches early on, it felt like it was papering over the cracks.” (07:21)
- Pearce: “Signs were there from the start in August.… Injuries… just compounded by players like Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leone being out.” (07:55)
Stalling Key Players
Virgil van Dijk’s Decline & Defensive Woes
(09:16-11:10)
- Pearce on Van Dijk: “It's easy to point the finger... but if I was making a list of 15, 20 problems that Slot has got, Van Dijk isn’t in that top 15 or 20.” (09:40)
- Defensive chaos: “Konate’s form absolutely dropped off a cliff… midfield hasn't operated anything like what we saw from Liverpool… when they won the title.” (10:25)
Mohamed Salah: From Talisman to Afterthought
(11:10-15:16)
- Tim Spears: “Last season you give him the ball and he’d probably do something amazing… his teammates don’t pass to him anymore.… Looks to me like there’s frustration with him from his teammates.” (11:29–12:15)
- Pearce: “He is doubting himself and lacking confidence. Which is something very rarely ever said over the course of his Liverpool career.” (12:54)
- Ornstein: Despite a recent renewal, “The Salah situation feels like we still don’t have total clarity… if indeed there is going to be a departure, then that would leave a massive hole.” (15:35)
Managerial Pressure: Is Slot’s Job on the Line?
Atmosphere & Club Backing
(20:17-25:10)
- Spears: “He doesn’t help himself with some of his comments... I think it feels like to me, the more that he imprints himself and his style on the players... the worse Liverpool have become.” (20:35)
- Pearce: “I don’t get the impression that his job is under any threat at the moment.… The owners still believe in him. He's a title-winning manager.” (22:34)
Internal vs. External Reality
(25:10-29:52)
- Ornstein: “The harmonious external... is often not quite the reality internally... but all indications from the work we do is that Liverpool have no intention of changing and are sticking with Slot.” (25:35)
- Liverpool’s recruitment is now focused on youth and transition, FSG usually favors the coach over aging players.
Recruitment, Responsibility, and Looking to the Future
Who Bears Responsibility for the Squad?
(29:52-33:15)
- Pearce: “Recruitment rests with sporting director Richard Hughes... sanctioning big financial outlays, that's FSG CEO Michael Edwards.” (30:18)
- Decisions not to replace Luis Diaz, Gakpo’s form drop, failure to land deadline targets have all compounded problems.
What’s Next? Champions League Race & Suitability for the League
(33:15-36:30)
- Spears: “They’re only three points off 11th… on the trajectory they're on, if they keep dropping points, it will go into crisis mode if they drop down to eighth or ninth.” (33:38)
- Jamie Carragher’s take: "Liverpool are fundamentally not suited to playing in the Premier League right now."
- Pearce: “Common sense says no [to winning the Champions League], but the kind of games that has actually brought out the best in this team.” (35:46)
Transfers Roundup: Wolves, Fulham, Aston Villa
Wolves and the Strand Larsen/Mateta Transfer Domino
(39:53-46:52)
- Ornstein: “The movement of Strand Larsen and Mateta is actually one of the key things to keep an eye on.” (40:04)
- Spears: “It's fascinating... a potential bidding war for this player who scored no non-penalty goals in the Premier League this season.” (42:56)
- Wolves expected to cash in, as relegation looms.
Fulham’s Success & Contract Uncertainty
(47:05-49:31)
- Ornstein: “What a season Fulham are having… Marco Silva’s new deal remains unsigned; Harry Wilson likely to depart as a free agent in the summer.” (47:05)
- Adama Traoré set to join West Ham as Fulham strengthen for next season.
Aston Villa’s Midfield Reinforcements
(49:31-51:33)
- Tim Spears: “Their midfield's got to be up there with potentially the best in the league.” (49:43)
- Ornstein: “Douglas Luiz... Juventus have received contact from Aston Villa… they may well step up that pursuit in the next hours or days.” (50:34)
Notable Quotes
- James Pearce: “There was one moment in particular at Bournemouth... Salah ... didn’t even look to take the shot on... that to me was just... the mark of a player who, yeah, he is doubting himself and lacking confidence.” (14:12)
- Tim Spears: “The more that Slot has tried to take control... the weaker Liverpool have become.” (21:15)
- David Ornstein: “Liverpool have no intention of changing and are sticking with Arnas Slot until at least the summer.” (25:35)
- Ayo Akimolere: “This could be quite a strange end to the season for Liverpool.” (33:15)
- James Pearce: “Regardless of what happens... there is a lot that's going to need to be done.” (32:55)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Opening Liverpool/Bournemouth Analysis: 02:35–05:51
- Performance Drop & Title Surrender: 05:51–07:21
- Early Season Warning Signs: 07:21–09:16
- Van Dijk & Defensive Issues: 09:16–11:10
- Salah’s Confidence & Future: 11:10–15:16
- Slot’s Position Examined: 20:17–25:10
- Recruitment, FSG approach & Aging Squad: 25:10–29:52
- Accountability in Recruitment: 29:52–33:15
- Liverpool’s Top Four Prospects: 33:15–36:30
- Transfer Domino (Strand Larsen, Mateta): 39:53–46:52
- Fulham/Aston Villa Transfer Updates: 47:05–51:33
Final Take
The episode offers a candid, sometimes sharp assessment of Liverpool’s alarming unraveling this season, with nuanced takes on injuries, squad flaws, questions over Slot’s tactical imprint, and doubts around established stars. The transfer round-up adds intrigue, affirming January’s frantic uncertainties, while the consensus is that Slot remains safe—at least for now—but serious surgery awaits this Liverpool squad in the summer.