FSG inform Arne Slot how he can keep his job as Liverpool head coach | OneFootball

Liverpool experienced their heaviest defeat of Arne Slot’s reign on Saturday.

The Reds lost 4-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals to Manchester City at the Etihad - with Pep Guardiola’s side particularly dominant across a devastating 20-minute spell.

The Premier League champions had no answer to City’s firepower - with Erling Haaland scoring a hat-trick and Antoine Semenyo also on the scoresheet.

Arne Slot’s side next face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night - hoping to avoid a 16th loss in all competitions this season.

Their Premier League title defence is a total write-off with Liverpool struggling to qualify for the Champions League via their league place.

And with one more chance of silverware disappearing on Saturday many fans could be forgiven for thinking that the loss pushed Arne Slot closer to the sack.

FA Cup loss will have no bearing on Slot sack decision

The Dutchman - hired by Richard Hughes as Jurgen Klopp’s replacement in 2024 - is only under contract until 2027. Therefore it’s been speculated that a change could be made in the dugout in order to put Liverpool back on an even keel.

But trusted club insider James Pearce has now shared the knowledge that the FA Cup defeat will not feature in FSG’s assessment of Slot’s position.

Instead what will be considered is the Champions League and the Champions League only. Slot has got to get his squad back into the competition for next season in order to keep his job.

Slot will stay if LFC qualify for the Champions League

"Now more than ever, qualifying for the Champions League is viewed as far more important, given the revenue doing so generates," the report in the Athletic reads.

“Winning the FA Cup would not have saved Arne Slot’s job this summer, in the same way as bowing out of the competition at the quarter-final stage on Saturday will not seriously influence how this troubled season is viewed by his bosses at FSG.

“FSG wants to give the Dutchman the chance to put things right next season, but that position will be untenable if the campaign completely unravels in the coming weeks.

"Now it’s Champions League or bust."

Liverpool are currently in fifth - which should be good enough for a Champions League spot. But towards the end of the Premier League season they will face Chelsea, Manchester United and Aston Villa - all rivals for the Champions League.

Factor in a tricky-looking Merseyside derby against Everton and you can see why Slot might well find himself in a precarious position.

But FSG have spoken; if he guides the club back to the Champions League via a top-five place - or winning the competition outright this season - then Slot is the likely candidate to lead the team next term.