Liverpool make Arne Slot sack decision after Sunderland win, they’re ‘fed up’ – report

Liverpool walked off the pitch at the Stadium of Light with three precious points in their pocket, but inside the club, nobody was celebrating like champions. The narrow win against Sunderland should have brought relief, confidence, and belief, yet instead it only delayed a much bigger conversation that has been building behind closed doors for weeks. At Anfield, patience is running out, and the message from the board to Arne Slot is now clear, cold, and brutal. Win a trophy this season, or your time at Liverpool will come to an end.

The victory over Sunderland came at a time when Liverpool badly needed something to stop the bleeding. Performances had dipped, results had disappointed, and the defending champions of England were looking nothing like a team capable of protecting their crown. The league table tells its own uncomfortable story. Liverpool sit outside the top four, chasing Manchester United with only a small gap separating hope from humiliation. For a club that lifted the Premier League trophy just last season, this has felt like a dramatic fall from grace.

Arne Slot arrived at Liverpool with excitement, confidence, and belief. He was seen as a modern coach with fresh ideas, someone who could build on success rather than simply maintain it. But football moves fast, and at a club like Liverpool, success yesterday does not buy forgiveness today. Every poor performance has added weight to his shoulders. Every dropped point has tightened the rope around his future.

According to reports from Spain, Liverpool’s hierarchy have already made their position clear. Slot will not be judged on progress, excuses, or injuries alone. He will be judged on silverware. If he ends the season empty-handed, then the club are ready to make a change, even if that means ending his reign just two years into a three-year contract. That is how ruthless elite football has become.

What makes this situation even more dramatic is the contrast between investment and return. Last summer, Liverpool shocked English football with a record-breaking transfer window. They did not just spend big, they spent historically. Florian Wirtz arrived amid huge fanfare, seen as a generational talent capable of carrying the team creatively for years. Alexander Isak was signed for a massive fee, expected to deliver goals, fear, and dominance in the final third. Hugo Ekitike added depth and energy, Jeremie Frimpong brought speed and width, while Milos Kerkez strengthened the defensive options.

This was not the spending of a cautious club. This was a statement of ambition. Liverpool were supposed to dominate England and compete seriously in Europe. Instead, the season has been defined by inconsistency, frustration, and a sense that something is not clicking.

Yes, injuries have played their part. Arne Slot has been forced to juggle lineups, adapt tactics, and rely on players returning before they were fully ready. The recent injury to Wataru Endo, who was stretchered off in worrying scenes, only added to the list of problems. Key players have missed important games, rhythm has been broken, and confidence has dipped. But at the very top level, injuries are not seen as excuses. They are seen as challenges to overcome.

Liverpool have already secured a place in the Champions League last 16, which on paper looks positive. They are also still alive in the FA Cup, with a tough clash against Brighton waiting. These competitions now carry enormous weight. What once felt like opportunities now feel like final exams. Every cup match is a test of Slot’s survival.

Inside the dressing room, pressure can be felt. Players know what is being said outside. They hear the noise, read the headlines, and sense the uncertainty. Footballers perform best when stability exists, but Liverpool are currently living in a state of quiet tension. Nobody knows what the summer will bring, and that uncertainty spreads like smoke.

Adding fuel to the fire are reports that Liverpool have already explored alternatives. Xabi Alonso’s name has been mentioned repeatedly. A former Liverpool midfielder, loved by fans, respected across Europe, and seen as a future elite coach, Alonso represents both romance and ambition. Even though his own recent situation elsewhere has been complicated, the mere fact that Liverpool have spoken to him sends a strong message. Slot is not untouchable.

This is what makes the current moment so dangerous for the Dutch manager. One good result will not save him. One bad result could push him closer to the edge. He is walking a tight rope at Anfield, with no safety net below.

The Sunderland win showed signs of fight, discipline, and determination, but it did not erase the doubts. Liverpool still struggle to control games the way champions should. There are moments of brilliance, followed by long spells of confusion. Defensively, the team has looked vulnerable. Offensively, they have sometimes lacked cohesion, despite the talent available.

For the Liverpool board, the fear is simple but serious. Missing out on Champions League football next season would be a financial and sporting disaster. It would damage recruitment, reduce income, and weaken the club’s position at the very top of European football. After investing so heavily, they cannot afford to accept regression.

That is why the ultimatum has been delivered. Win a trophy, show progress, prove that this project is worth continuing, or step aside.

From Slot’s perspective, the challenge is enormous. He must manage injuries, rebuild confidence, and find consistency, all while knowing that every decision he makes is being judged not just by fans and media, but by executives already preparing for possible change. Coaching under that kind of pressure can either break a manager or bring out the very best in him.

There is still a path to redemption. Football history is full of managers who survived difficult moments by delivering when it mattered most. A cup run can change everything. A trophy lifts belief, unites fans, and forces boards to pause and reconsider. If Slot can guide Liverpool to silverware despite the chaos, it will be impossible to deny his resilience and potential.

But if he fails, the ending may already be written.

Liverpool are not a club that waits forever. Their standards are brutal because their history demands it. Success is expected, not hoped for. Arne Slot knew this when he accepted the job. Now he must face it.

As the season enters its decisive phase, every match feels heavier than the last. Every substitution, every tactical tweak, every press conference carries extra meaning. Slot is no longer just managing games. He is managing his future.

The fans remain divided. Some believe he deserves more time, pointing to injuries and transition. Others feel the team has gone backwards and that change is needed before things get worse. Anfield can be patient, but it can also turn quickly when belief fades.

One thing is certain. Liverpool’s season is no longer just about league position or progress. It is about survival at the top, about ambition, and about whether Arne Slot can prove that he is the man to lead this club forward.

Win a trophy, and he stays. Fail, and Liverpool will move on without hesitation.

Football rarely offers second chances at this level. The clock is ticking, the pressure is rising, and Arne Slot’s Liverpool future now hangs on silverware.