Premier League icon Sam Allardyce has delivered a clear message for the Liverpool hierarchy to stick by Arne Slot. The Reds have performed well below expectations this term, sitting 21 points behind leaders Arsenal.
There was plenty of excitement surrounding the new signings added to Slot’s side last summer after the club paid record fees for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak. Recruiting more top stars to a title-winning team, Liverpool were widely tipped to enjoy a dominant campaign but those predictions proved to be wide of the mark.
The Reds have suffered 10 defeats in 31 league games and are battling to secure a top-four place. Liverpool face a challenging FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City on Saturday, followed by the first leg Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain.
The next two games could potentially increase pressure on Slot, who has been criticised for the team’s results and style of play. However, experienced manager Allardyce has argued that the scrutiny on the Reds boss is unfair compared to his predecessor Jurgen Klopp’s time at Anfield.
“You can't get rid of him when he just comes in and wins the league – nobody else has ever done that,” he said on Footy Accumulators No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, in partnership with BOYLE Sports. “You’ve got to give him another year. You’ve got to, he won the league.
“He won the league, Jürgen Klopp couldn’t win the league in the last three years he tried to and he’s still a God.”
Unlike many of their rivals this season, Liverpool have resisted the temptation to make a managerial change. However, former Bolton boss Allardyce believes that Premier League clubs are wrong for refusing to give coaches the necessary time to work through tough spells.
“Boards are not strong enough to put up with the c**p,” he added. “They’re so weak. Boards of directors are so goddamn weak now. It’s unbelievable. You stick by your man if that’s the way it is. So you’ve got to give him next season.”
Slot delivered Liverpool’s second Premier League title in his first year in charge, having previously won the trophy under Klopp in 2020. Despite the Dutch coach’s immediate success at Anfield, Allardyce claims Slot is possibly looked at less favourably due to his lack of touchline antics.
“You’ve got to be a film star as a manager now because you’ve got to act,” Allardyce added. “You have to act in front of your crowd. You’ve got to show emotion – run down the touchline, get a yellow card, punch the air. You’ve got to give it all that. Let’s go!”
Meanwhile, Slot is approaching the final year of his Liverpool contract after agreeing a three-year deal in 2024. He refused to be drawn on his long-term future earlier this month after his side reached the Champions League quarter-finals.
“Is this how football works, we win one time (4-0 against Galatasaray) and now we are talking about my contract?” the manager said. “We didn't win one time by the way, we have won more than everyone thinks in the last one or two months.”
He continued: “Reaching a quarter-final [of the Champions League] is positive and now we have to make more of a step in the league because we don't have the greatest position in the league, so it is going to be a fight and my focus is completely on that.”
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