Jamie Carragher believes that Arne Slot could end up being sacked by Liverpool at the end of the season, as the former defender gave a brutally honest prediction over the Dutch manager’s future.
The Reds dropped Premier League points on the road against Bournemouth on Saturday, as a late goal from Amine Adli secured an important win for the Cherries. Wins for Chelsea and Manchester United on Sunday meant that they went about Liverpool in the table, with the Merseysiders dropping to sixth.
The nature of the defeat has led to increased scrutiny on Slot, considering that his team have fallen short of pre-season expectations. Despite spending £450m on the likes of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, they are now battling to qualify for the Champions League, with dreams of back-to-back league titles firmly behind them.
He said: “If you don’t qualify for the Champions League, having won the league the season before and spent as much as Liverpool, he doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
“The real worry I have for Liverpool in terms of qualifying for the Champions League is the three big things that stand out in the Premier League now are set-pieces, counter-attacking football and coming up against low blocks. Liverpool can’t cope with any of them. What we’re seeing is a team in the Premier League that’s not suited to the Premier League.”
Carragher also stated that performances from teams around Liverpool were cause for concern, saying: “Once you start seeing what Manchester United and Chelsea have done in the last couple of weeks, you start seeing that Liverpool could actually finish outside the Champions League positions. I really fear for them. Once you start fearing Champions League qualification for next season, that’s when I think we’ve got a completely different proposition when we’re talking about the manager’s job. That, for me, is completely different.
“If we’re talking about not winning the league or challenging for the league, that is a collective responsibility, and Liverpool don’t win the league every year. Not making the Champions League from [being] champions, spending £450m and having the highest wage bill in the Premier League, which is normally the biggest determining factor over where you finish in the league, I think you’ve got serious questions to ask.”
Carragher Changes Tune Over Slot Just Days After Backing Him
Carragher’s comments mark something of a U-turn, with the Liverpool icon previously defending Slot in an episode of The Overlap’s Fan Debate. He had said last week that speculation over the manager’s future was “disrespectful” considering the success he brought in his first season.
Carragher said: “I want to tell you where I stand on the manager. I am starting to get a little wound up.
“I know social media is something you shouldn’t always use as a barometer of what every football fan thinks, but I feel there is a real disrespect towards Slot, considering what he’s done for the club.
“I know it’s not been a great season, but I’m almost a little taken aback by some of it on there. Fans don’t always have to agree so you think they will be sensible, but I don’t like it.
“I think six months after winning a league title, I think it’s a little disrespectful, almost like they think he hasn’t got a clue what he’s doing.”
But with Joshua Zirkzee’s future at Old Trafford looking bleak, new manager Michael Carrick is keen to ensure he isn’t left short of options in attack, and there are chances for a new striker to come in.
Man Utd Offered Top Striker Deal
According to TEAMtalk, Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic has been offered to a number of clubs for a transfer this summer, including Manchester United.
The Serbia international, who has been described as ‘one of the best strikers in the world’, is set to leave the Serie A giants following a break down in talks over a new contract, with his deal set to expire at the end of the month.
Juventus have been unwilling to match his wage demands, and now the player’s representatives are targeting a move to England as the next step in his career.
It’s understood that Man Utd are assessing their options and looking to see whether a deal is possible, with the 26-year-old reportedly demanding £266,000-a-week to put pen-to-paper on any deal, plus a significant signing on fee.
Vlahovic is also attracting interest from Saudi Arabia and clubs in Europe, but he is believed to want to continue to play in Europe in the top leagues. Atletico Madrid are understood to be interested, should Julian Alvarez leave, while Chelsea are said to be showing the most interest in England.
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Vlahovic and Sesko Could be Fearsome Duo
Man Utd spent big to strengthen their attack last summer, bringing in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, with all of them hitting double figures for goals in their debut campaign.
While Vlahovic has had his issues with form in recent seasons, his ability is undeniable, and contract issues have overshadowed his time at Juventus for the most recent years. A fresh start could be the kickstart that he needs to get back to his lethal self.
On a free transfer, United could do with someone who has his goal record, and stylistically he and Sesko are similar, which could help the team tactically. It’s an interesting deal to watch over the coming weeks, but whoever lands Vlahovic would be getting a bargain of a deal.
As good as Zirkzee is technically, it hasn’t worked out for him at Old Trafford. An exit looks inevitable, and Vlahovic would be a major upgrade on the Netherlands international, so it’s a deal that should be strongly considered.
Juventus have made contact with Crystal Palace over a deal to sign striker Jean-Philippe Mateta this summer in recent hours, according to Gazzetta Dello Sport.
The Serie A giants are looking to bolster their squad this summer after missing out on Champions League football, while the Eagles are set to enter a new era at Selhurst Park after winning the Conference League, with manager Oliver Glasner departing after his contract expired.
Palace are expecting big interest in several of their top stars as a result, despite qualifying for the Europa League as a result of their third trophy in 12 months, and now Juventus have made their first move for one of the key players responsible for their recent success.
Juventus Make Move to Sign Mateta
According to a report, Juventus are stepping up their interest in signing a new striker after it was confirmed that Dusan Vlahovic will depart when his contract expires at the end of the month.
But the 28-year-old battled back to fitness and enjoyed a fine end of the season with Palace, scoring the winning goal in the Conference League final and earning a place in France’s World Cup squad under Didier Deschamps.
Palace are now set to hire Pierre Sage as Glasner’s replacement, but he may be forced to plan for his new season without their top forward, as Juventus make their move to sign Mateta this summer.
It’s expected that Mateta will be sold, as he enters the final 12 months of his contract at Selhurst Park, with GIVEMESPORT sources previously revealing that he would be very open to a move to Serie A.
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Crystal Palace Already Planning for Life After Mateta
Mateta has been a revelation at Palace in recent seasons, and replacing him will be unbelievably difficult for the club because he has been such a reliable source of goals.
The club looked to solve the issue in January by bringing in all of Jorgen Strand Larsen, Evann Guessand, and Brennan Johnson to strengthen the attack, and it may mean that Sage has plenty of options already.
But Guessand’s move wasn’t made permanent, Johnson scored just once since his arrival, and Larsen didn’t have a great season either. With Mateta on the move, Sage has the chance to make an impact by bringing in a top number nine that he trusts to fill the void, and that would immediately get fans on side going forward.
Bayern Munich are exploring a shock summer move to sign Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha, according to a breaking update from Athletic journalist David Ornstein.
Liverpool have only just appointed Andoni Iraola as their new manager, and they are working on incoming signings following summer exits for three of their key players in Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate.
The Reds are already working hard on a deal to sign RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande as Salah’s successor at Anfield, and they lead the race for his signature after the positive steps that have been taken on player side, according to Ornstein.
The Merseyside outfit want to add to their attack rather than lose players from it, but Bayern clearly have different ideas as they look to bolster their frontline ahead of next season.
Ornstein: Bayern Munich Exploring Rio Ngumoha Move
In a surprise update on Friday evening, Ornstein claims that Bayern are exploring a move for Ngumoha, with the Liverpool winger their primary target as they look to bring in a left-sided forward during the summer.
The 17-year-old is aware of the Bundesliga giants’ pursuit even though there has been no contact between the clubs yet, although Liverpool insist their teenage sensation is not for sale and they want to add to the squad rather than weakening it in the coming months.
