Why this Premier League run-in will be Liverpool's most crucial in years
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Arsenal’s lackluster season resulting in a title has left many supporters wondering what might have been had Liverpool performed anywhere near their potential this season.Their Champions League prospects this season look equally bleak. While the club has produced miracles at Anfield before, Tuesday’s 2–0 defeat in the first leg at the Parc de Princes—a match in which Liverpool were absolutely dominated—felt less like a missed opportunity and more like a mercy.Barring one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent Champions League history, Liverpool will likely find themselves with no trophies left to play for by this time next week.
And yet, with the confirmation that English clubs will receive a fifth Champions League spot next season, the run-in may carry more weight than ever before.Paris Saint-Germain FC v Liverpool FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg | DeFodi Images/GettyImagesSlot’s job should be on the linePerhaps it’s obvious to say, but there’s no getting around it: the stretch between now and the end of the season should determine whether Arne Slot remains Liverpool manager next year.A shocking number of things have gone wrong for the club this season—from the tragic death of a beloved player, to a crippling run of defensive injuries, to a dramatic dip in individual quality from players like Mohamed Salah. For that reason, I’ve been inclined to remain loyal to the man who delivered a league title in his first season.Still, injuries and setbacks are part of every campaign, and it increasingly feels as though the relative smoothness of last season has left Slot ill-prepared to navigate real adversity this time around.It would be one thing if results were unlucky but the effort remained.
That speaks volumes about the current state of the dressing room.Even so, while some supporters may already be calling for his immediate dismissal, the newly secured fifth English spot in next season’s Champions League feels like the perfect barometer; it offers a clear, attainable objective.If Slot can rally the team—restore focus, instill resilience, and secure Champions League qualification amid pressure from sides like Chelsea—he will have made a strong case that this season could be a blip, even if he begins the next campaign on a short leash.However, if the pressure proves too much and performances continue to falter, the conclusion becomes clearer. Yet with Salah nearing the end of his time at the club, there remains an opportunity to deliver one final contribution—securing Champions League football.