Alan Shearer Exclusive: Slot needs to qualify for Champions League to save his Liverpool job | OneFootball

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Shearer believes Slots needs to qualify for the Champions League

In this week's exclusive Betfair ambassador Alan Shearer says Liverpool could become the worst defending champions in Premier League history, as well as having his say on Arne Slot, Arsenal's strikers, Michael Carrick, Newcastle and much more...

Slot needs to qualify for Champions League to keep his job

You can say a few managers in the Premier League are walking a tight rope. I think if you go right through, other than perhaps Arsenal, I know they had a bad result last weekend, but other than Arsenal, I think it's very similar. Tottenham are the same. But yeah, Liverpool, with the very high standards that they set, haven't reached anywhere near where they were last season.

It's difficult when they're off the back of a 6-0 win at home in the Champions League and finishing in the top eight and going straight into the round of 16.

But I guess when you look at Liverpool and the energy that they showed last year, particularly in those midfield positions, there's so much missing. And defensively they've been a shadow of themselves from what we saw last season, despite the huge amounts that they've spent on players.

That result at Bournemouth sort of summed them up last week, for all three goals, not just the one they conceded in the last minute, which was the winner for Bournemouth. So certainly, plenty to work on, but I would say there's lots of clubs like that.

I would think Arne Slot has to finish in a Champions League spot to keep his job ahead of next season. I mean, what trophies have they got left to play for? They've got two left. The FA Cup and Champions League I guess because they're not winning the Premier League.

But it's not beyond them to win the Champions League with the form they're in, in that competition and the history they have. I wouldn't say that he has to win a trophy, but I think he has to qualify for the Champions League again to keep his job ahead of next season. That would be the big thing.

Reds could be worst defending champions in Premier League history

I'm in a good position to talk about being the worst defending champions in the Premier League because we did that at Blackburn when we won the league. I think we finished sixth the season after we won it. I guess on the other side of it, we didn't sign any players, whereas Liverpool have spent roughly £400 million. So, it possibly would be the case that they could become the worst defending champions the league has seen.

When you're spending that much money as a football club, it would be a spectacular fall and failure to go from where they were last season to not qualifying for the Champions League this season. It looks as if top five will be enough so for Liverpool to finish outside of the top five would not be a good look for Slot or Liverpool.

Liverpool took a huge gamble with their summer recruitment

I think Liverpool took a huge gamble going into the season with their recruitment.  I know they were in for Marc Guehi both before the season and in January and for whatever reason that didn't work out but yeah, in hindsight, that doesn't look like a good decision now.

They replenished all over the park in terms of forwards and full-backs but in that central defensive position, it was always going to be a big gamble going into the season with Konate, Van Dijk and Joe Gomez. Gomez has a history of having injuries anyway and they sold Quansah so in hindsight, it doesn't look like a good decision letting the Guehi situation slip by.

Carrick still has a lot to prove despite amazing start

A penny for Ruben Amorim's thoughts again. I said that after the first game against Man City and we're saying it again against Arsenal because that's an impressive start by anyone's standards.

But I guess he's also put round pegs in round holes, and he's put them into a system that they all look very comfortable in. Yeah, you need one or two breaks, which they got but the main thing is, it's just been chalk and cheese from what we saw under Amorim to what we're seeing under Michael Carrick now and even Darren Fletcher.

Fletcher had two games and Michael's only had two games, but the difference in attitude, the difference in results clearly, the difference in some of the players has just been remarkable and the standards that they've set in those two games is what everyone now looks at Man United and thinks. They've got to keep that going now, but they've put themselves into a really, really healthy position to kick on and get a Champions League spot.

I understand the questions and I understand why people would say Carrick should get the job full time at Manchester United,  but I think the sensible way to look at it is that it's been an amazing two games for him and the team and for the club and the turnaround has been spectacular. But it's two games. If we're still seeing the same thing in April, then that's a different matter.

If that was the case then you'd seriously have to look at it and think this guy deserves a chance. If it's still going as it is, and if the results are the same, then absolutely, I understand the clamour that would be coming then.

But after two games, yes, amazing, they couldn't have gone any better for Michael Carrick. But let's see in April what the reaction is and what their performances are like.

United still have a long way to go to get Champions League football

I wouldn't go that far yet to say Manchester United are favourites to get Champions League football next season. As impressed as I have been, and everyone's been with the two results, I think when you look at Man City, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Chelsea have had a bounce. Liverpool are in that position, but they've been dreadful defensively so there's still a big ask for Man United.

It's a big if, but If they do keep up what we've seen so far, then absolutely, we can speak about them being one of the favourites. But at the minute, there's still a lot of teams ahead of them.

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I wouldn't read too much into Cole Palmer homesick reports

I've read the reports and I listened to Liam Rosenior after the games saying how happy Cole Palmer is. I mean, he didn't do so bad against Napoli for Chelsea when he came on, and they were under the cosh. I wouldn't get too carried away by those reports. If it was Cole coming out and saying that, then I would get it and perhaps understand it.

I would say the same as what I've said before; for someone of that standard and how much it would cost to then put yourself in that position to go somewhere else and back to Manchester, that would be a big ask too. I wouldn't get carried away with those reports as yet.

I know what it's like to get homesick, I left home at 15, but it's not as if I could just jump back on a train from Southampton to Newcastle. You sort of get used to that and I don't know his situation, who or what he's with in terms of partners, but you have to take that into account as well. I got homesick, but it's not as if Palmer can just run back at the first sign of it, is it?

Wherever he went, if he was to go anywhere, he would improve that side five or tenfold because of the ability that he has. He's a wonderful player, He makes things look ever so easy, which clearly, they're not. But there's no doubt whatever team, if he left Chelsea, he would go to, then he would improve them massively.

I think he's a nap to go to the World Cup. The only thing I think that would stop him would be an injury. I had an injury leading into Euro 96 that I wasn't quite comfortable with in terms of a hernia and it was on my mind. It's not very nice. I hope whatever his problem is, it can be cleared up not only for him and Chelsea, but for England as well. He, for me, would definitely be in the England squad.

Adam Wharton would improve any club

I think Adam Wharton is a brilliant talent. Crystal Palace got a great deal when signing him from Blackburn for around £20 million. I don't know what the cost would be to get him out there, it's a very tough time for Palace, I seen they are in the running to sign Strand Larsen. Whether that would compensate for Mateta leaving before deadline day if that's what they're trying to do but it seems as if it's pretty chaotic at Crystal Palace at the moment.

If Wharton was to leave Palace, he would have a lot of clubs after him. And I mean the big clubs as well who have got money to spend. He would also cost a few quid. Wherever he went, if he went to Man United, he would improve them. Same with Newcastle, same with Liverpool. The only thing that I guess is the one or two niggling injuries that he's had. But he's a really, really talented player who will improve any team.

It is incredible the amount of money Palace are paying for Jorgen Strand Larsen

It's amazing the money Jorgen Strand Larsen might potentially go for, I mean, Newcastle were rumoured to have put £50m or £60m on the table for him last season too, which was a bit of a surprise. And then when you've scored one goal this season in the league and then clubs are putting in £40 or £50 million for you, it is incredible.

I've said before about the price of strikers that went in the summer this season that so many clubs spent far too much money for strikers. And I include my club in that, in Newcastle. But I just think that because there's just not a pool of talented centre-forwards around, which is of course pushing the price up for whoever it is. I mean, he has one goal this season and there's no real injury situation for that, is there? I can't remember there being a serious injury in there for him to warrant that one goal.

I think that would be a really good deal for Wolves. But I guess if Mateta is leaving, then Crystal Palace will be desperate to get someone in. Leeds were in for Strand Larsen as well, which then pushes the price up even more. And because there's just a shortage of centre forwards around. When you put all that together, I guess that's why they're costing that much money.

Arsenal have to get their forwards scoring goals

I guess in a similar way, we were in the same position at Blackburn as Arsenal are now when the year before that we finished second to Manchester United. Perhaps we should have won it. But then the third year when we did win it, all those questions were asked of us. As soon as you lose or draw a game, is this the time they're going to bottle it? And I guess they're going to have to get their forwards scoring goals again.

My take on it would be, Saka's too good, Martinelli and Trossard are too good, whether it's Havertz, Jesus or Gyokeres, you'd have to think at least one, possibly two of those must start scoring again pretty soon.

And despite them going through their issues they've won eight out of eight Champions League games; they're four points clear in the Premier League and are in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup and still in the FA Cup.

They're flying on all fronts and I'm sure this is what Mikel has been telling them. They've got a real chance of winning four trophies. That's a live chance and a proper chance of winning four. So, it's not a bad position to be in, albeit they're on the back of a poor result against Man United, where, unusually, they looked very shaky defensively.

Now you can put that down to a one-off or you can put that down to their forwards not scoring enough or whatever it is. I guess their job now is okay now that has happened, look at the position we are in. That has to be a huge positive. I wouldn't be too concerned yet but whether they can go through the rest of the season with carrying those strikers in terms of not scoring goals and relying on set pieces, I'm not too sure. But I think because of the ability of all those players, I think that will change.

Arsenal have put themselves in such a great position. They've got such a great squad and they're never going to have a better chance with the position that they're in now to win the league. They're in an unbelievable position, but I do think over the next few months, there will be sticky periods. We had one at Blackburn when we were doing it and they will have it as well. It's how they're going to come through that.

Newcastle showed against PSG that they can go far in the Champions League

Eddie Howe changed the system against PSG, went in with three at the back, brought Dan Burn back for his first start after being out with his punctured lung which he suffered against Sunderland, left Harvey Barnes out and left Anthony Gordon out, which when you consider their Champions League form, was a huge call. But I thought, given the changes that they made and certainly the formation that Howe played, they were under huge pressure in the first 35 minutes or so, I thought they got hard done by.

I know the rules are different when you're playing European football. If it hits your hand, then more often than not, there is going to be a penalty. But I thought the referee made some really strange decisions. Once Newcastle scored the goal, the momentum totally shifted. And Newcastle were much the better team in the second half.

Newcastle could have won it and should have won it with the chances they had. They had two really good chances in the last 10 minutes when he did bring Barnes and Gordon on to hit them with that pace and I thought it was a really positive performance, albeit not enough to get into the top eight.

But when you look at their away form this year, which has been patchy to say the least, then hopefully that's a turning point for them. They've got another big game against Liverpool this weekend and I guess he'll have more players to call on then, whether he'll go back to the same back four or whatever, we'll have to wait and see. But at least that was a good change in formation, which worked going up against a very good side in PSG.

Newcastle can definitely make it through to the next round in the Champions League, I guess, without seeing too much of Monaco or Qarabag, I think the form of Newcastle in the Champions League would suggest they can get through to the last 16. And I guess that's when it gets really interesting, then that's when the big boys come into the equation, certainly from the draw and from Newcastle's point of view.

It does look like Barcelona or Chelsea, which is really tough. But I think it's a decent draw in the playoffs for Newcastle. And I would hope and believe that Newcastle can get through to the last 16.

Newcastle have to use the PSG result to kick on in the Premier League

I've said it a few times now. I've said it when they've won in the Champions League before away from home, when they've won at Burnley and at Everton. Right, now is the time, hopefully, to kick on. I think there were encouraging signs on Wednesday night with Jacob Ramsey, who I thought probably had his best game in a Newcastle shirt and Joe Willock got his goal.

Dan Burn I thought was immense and Lewis Miley again at right back, I just thought he was absolutely fantastic. He really was. Lots of positives for Newcastle to take but they've got to now take that forward and there is probably no tougher game than having Liverpool away on Saturday night.

The aim for Newcastle has to be to get into a Champions League spot again, which I guess for them is imperative because of the finances and how they want to keep players. It's really important they carry that confidence that they'll get from Wednesday into that game on Saturday.

Liam Rosenior is starting to stamp his authority on Chelsea

I guess the only negative for Liam Rosenior so far, and there's not too many, was the result against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup. But other than that, his results have been really good, and he's had a great start.

Napoli was always going to be a tough game. And they were losing at one point on Wednesday evening. So, the way they came back into that game, I guess, for Rosenior going forward, the belief and confidence to just stamp his authority on the football club because you know as well as I do, there's always people waiting for you to fail.

From Rosenior's point of view, that confidence and everything else, and I guess the aura that it'll give him in the dressing room will stand him in good stead going forward.

British teams prove that the PL is the best league in the world

I think having five out of the six Premier League teams in the top eight of the Champions League table proves without doubt that the Premier League is the best league in the world, and Newcastle are unlucky as well not to join them.

I also think it proves that it's very different going from Premier League to Champions League because we've seen more cagey football in the Premier League this season than we've seen for a while. Whereas when you go back into the Champions League, teams are more open, teams are attacking you more. I guess that's what suited Newcastle, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool.