The Athletic FC Podcast

Episode: Is Slot under pressure at Liverpool?

Date: November 25, 2025
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
Guests: John McKenzie, Oli Kay

Overview

This episode takes a deep dive into Liverpool’s current crisis under manager Arne Slot, following their sixth defeat in seven Premier League matches and a humiliating 3-0 loss at Anfield to Nottingham Forest. The panel examines whether Slot is truly under pressure, how tactical and squad-building issues are affecting results, the impact of recent transfers, and what the short- and long-term future holds for both Slot and Liverpool.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Anfield Atmosphere and Fan Reaction

[02:24]

• Ayo notes fan unrest after the historic 3–0 defeat.
• Oli Kay observes that while supporters were vocal, “it’s a mile away from the kind of scenes where a crowd turns on a manager… That’s not what’s happening here.”
  • He explains, “At Liverpool and Manchester United… fans don’t generally turn on the manager, they don’t boo the manager…” but adds there’s “a lot of negativity” and noticeably less unconditional loyalty compared to Jürgen Klopp’s tenure.

2. Slot’s Tactical System: Success, Evolution, and Current Limitations

[05:07]

• John McKenzie revisits his preseason prediction that Slot’s “De Zerbi-esque” deep-possession tactics (“possess the ball in deeper areas to generate nice conditions to attack”) would work well in Year 1.
  • In Year 2, “opponents… sit a little deeper, close off the space, and then you’ll have to focus on breaking us down.”
• The main issue now: Liverpool not only struggle to break down low blocks, but also are vulnerable to fast, direct transitions by opponents.
  • "They've not been able to hold onto clean sheets for as long and they've conceded earlier."
  • He lists openings goals conceded:
    • Palace (9'), Chelsea (14'), Man United (2'), Brentford (5'), Man City (29').
  • “It’s a very different tactical sort of landscape… and [Slot’s team] has not really navigated that well.”

3. Personnel Questions: The Alexander Isak Situation

[08:52]

• Oli highlights Isak’s poor numbers vs. Forest: “68 minutes, touches 14, expected goals 0.19, shots just one…”
• The transfer was rushed; Isak arrived without proper preseason and has struggled for form and fitness, contributing little so far.
  • “Slot has tried to sort of play him into form… but he’s picked up two injuries, and in the four matches he started, they’ve lost.”
  • “In the short term Slot would be better advised to go with Ekitike and stop trying to prioritize playing Isak into form.”
• Ayo questions if it’s about the player or the team.
• John (contextualizing with brilliant “cascade effect” analogy): “The difference between Gyökeres and Isak is that they’re going into different teams at very different moments with very different momentum… Football is not as simple as tactics being right or wrong – the micro-environment matters.”

Memorable Analogy – John McKenzie, [11:30]

“You make one change, killing off the sea otters has a massive effect across the board… The same thing happens in football… Everything can fall apart.”

4. Leadership & Macro Problems

[13:57]

• Ayo brings up Van Dijk’s leadership after the Forest loss.
• Oli says Van Dijk has generally performed well amidst chaos, but,
  • “The problem is now a bigger macro problem… a malaise over the team. It’s a question of how you solve that rather than solve micro tactical issues.”

5. Is Slot’s Job Really Under Threat?

[19:38]

• Slot (clip played): "I want to emphasize one more time on the fact that I'm responsible for the current losses…"
• Oli: “The murmurings I've heard from within the club have been very, very positive… solid in support of Slot and sympathetic to the difficulties.”
  • “No panic. We're confident… in a manager who delivered the league title six months ago.”

6. Squad Recruitment, Tactical Fit, and Slot’s Role

[21:13]

• John: Liverpool’s recruitment has disrupted tactical cohesion.
  • Last season Slot made it work with few new signings, mostly Klopp’s players.
  • Now, “players brought in haven’t really suited the strategy that Slot was playing… raises questions about recruitment and the relationship with the coach.”
  • “Manager’s responsibility is to get the most out of the squad presented… but also involved in the building of the squad.”
  • Uses “hot dog suit” meme: “We're still trying to find the guy who did this…”

7. Did Slot Just Win with Klopp's Team?

[24:46]

• Oli: “He did win the league with Klopp’s team, but Klopp, who is a brilliant manager, didn’t win the league with that team the previous season…”
  • Points out Slot “improved focus, game management and mentality,” but this season “has not been able to find the solutions.”
  • “Perhaps tried to change it a bit too quickly, tried to integrate too many new players immediately, playing people back into form…”

8. Lessons from Guardiola and Looking Ahead

[31:36]

• Despite being 12th, Liverpool are just three points off the top four; the table is congested.
• Oli: “A few decent results, and they could be back in contention for Europe,” but confidence is fragile: “It becomes hard to predict anything with certainty about a team bouncing back.”

[33:18] John:

• “The tactical landscape of the Premier League has shifted.”
• Immediate solution: focus on "small questions," e.g., “get the first goal, be aggressive… If we do, the game state will favor us.”
• Long term: “Is it an intrinsic tactical issue, a player profile issue…? Big questions.”
• Oli: Compares Liverpool’s situation to Man City’s struggles last season, but says Liverpool's problem is too much change too quickly, not too little like City.

9. January Transfers & Squad Needs

[37:17]

• Ayo: Should Liverpool “spend the same kind of money” in January?
• Oli: “Despite spending all the money in the summer, they are a central defender light… It feels like there’s another phase of this rebuild necessary… If Van Dijk was injured, it could disintegrate further. So they need another central defender, with great certainty.”

Notable Quotes

• Oli Kay:

  • “It does feel like… there’s not the same enormous bank of goodwill and unconditional loyalty that Jurgen Klopp had.” [03:45]
  • “The problem is a bigger macro problem… a malaise over the team.” [15:10]
  • On recruitment: “It almost feels as though when Slot was presented with a squad that he didn’t have a huge amount of say in… the football looked much better and as soon as they started building a squad for him, everything fell apart.” [21:35]

• John McKenzie:

  • “The difference between Gyökeres and Isak is that they’re going into very different teams at very different moments with very different momentum.” [12:10]
  • “As soon as one thing goes wrong, everything can fall apart and suddenly you feel as though you’re doing the same things as before, but the conditions have changed.” [12:40]
  • “Your tactics and strategies are only as good as the players that you have.” [21:13]
  • “[Slot] has to drag the players with him. For me that’s what I’m most interested in seeing – can he throw his tactics in the bin and say, fine, we’ve got to make something work here?” [24:46]

• Arne Slot (post-match):

  • “I want to emphasize one more time on the fact that I’m responsible for the current losses… you’re also responsible when you are losing.” [19:38]

Key Timestamps

• [02:24] – Reaction to 3-0 Nottingham Forest loss and fan discontent.
• [05:07–08:17] – John explains Slot’s tactical methodology and what’s changed year-on-year.
• [08:52–13:57] – Alexander Isak’s struggles; transfer context; analogy of football’s “cascade effects.”
• [13:57–16:39] – Van Dijk: leadership, squad malaise, and broader ‘macro’ issues.
• [19:38] – Slot post-match, club boardroom assessment.
• [21:13–24:46] – Impact of summer squad build, recruitment issues, manager responsibility.
• [24:46–27:42] – “Did Slot just win with Klopp’s team?” The challenge of managing transition.
• [31:36–33:18] – Chances of bouncing back in the league; lessons from Guardiola/Man City.
• [37:17–41:31] – January transfer debate, need for defensive reinforcements.

Conclusion

While results are troubling and the mood around Anfield is clearly turning negative, the consensus from the panel is that Arne Slot’s job is not currently at risk. The authorities at Liverpool remain supportive, recognizing the difficulties of significant squad overhaul, injuries, and new player integration. However, Slot faces the immediate task of stabilizing performances—through both tactical adaptation and strong crisis management—while the club must address lingering recruitment issues, especially defensively. The next run of fixtures will be critical for confidence and, perhaps, for Slot’s longer-term prospects.