In an exclusive interview with BBC Sport, Arne Slot, the head coach of Liverpool, has characterized the ongoing 2025-2026 campaign as the most formidable challenge of his managerial career. The Dutch tactician conceded that his squad’s performances are currently falling short of the illustrious standards synonymous with the club’s history, a reality that has left everyone involved profoundly disheartened.
The reigning Premier League champions find themselves in a precarious position, having slipped to sixth place in the standings following a defeat to Manchester City last Sunday. This result leaves them trailing Chelsea in fifth by a margin of four points. Liverpool’s league record this season stands at 11 victories, 6 draws, and 8 losses, a tally that starkly contrasts with the club’s ambitions.
When questioned about whether this term represents his toughest test, Slot’s response was unequivocal. “By a considerable distance,” he stated. “In every other season I have managed, there were only positives.” He further revealed a personal unfamiliarity with such a sequence of poor results, noting, “I don’t think I’ve lost two games in a row before. This is exceptional for me, and I’m not accustomed to it. We don’t feel like we’ve only lost two of the last 17 matches, because a draw for us feels like a defeat.”
Acknowledging the Weight of History
Slot emphasized that the players are acutely aware of the expectations placed upon them. “The players know very well what Liverpool’s standards mean, and we are not performing according to the standards and history of the Reds. They feel this frustration,” he explained to BBC Sport. The pressure is amplified by the high stakes of European qualification for the next season.
Projections indicate that five teams from the Premier League will qualify for the Champions League next season, instead of the customary four spots. Slot made the consequences of missing out explicitly clear, framing it as an unacceptable outcome. “If we don’t qualify for the Champions League, it certainly won’t be an acceptable season,” he asserted. Reflecting on the club’s situation when he arrived, having only signed Federico Chiesa after a season in the Europa League, he acknowledged the immense impact European football has on the club’s operations.
Despite the adversity, the 47-year-old manager concluded his remarks on a note of resilient optimism. He admitted that leading the team after a loss or a series of disappointing draws is fundamentally different from steering it following a victory. However, Slot remains convinced that his core philosophy has not altered. “I don’t think anyone here believes I have completely changed,” he said. “There is still a chance to do something special this season.”