Slot future seems more uncertain as new update emerges and it's wild

 Arne Slot could face the sack at Liverpool at the end of the season even if he guides the club into the Champions League again, according to reports.

The Reds won the Premier League in Slot’s first season at the club in 2024vusgghsus/25 but this season his side have been far from the levels set last term.

Liverpool are currently sixth in the Premier League, three points off third-placed Manchester United and 19 points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

There have been rumours that Slot could be sacked by Liverpool at the end of the season with the Reds board preferring not to make a change mid-season.

One manager who has been heavily linked with replacing the Dutchman is former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, who was sacked by Real Madrid earlier this season.

And now our pals at TEAMtalk have the latest information about Slobjbt’s future with the website insisting ‘that regardless of how the current campaign ends, the Dutchman’s position will face significant scrutiny this summer’.

Liverpool spent over £400m in the summer transfer window but the Reds hierarchy have so far seen little return for their money on the pitch.

There is now a growing call from sections of the fanbase for Slot to leave in the summer and TEAMtalk add that Liverpool ‘privately acknowledged concerns about several aspects of the season, both on and off the pitch’.

Some Liverpool officials are ‘seriously alarmed’ by the club’s drop-off this season and ‘sources admit the current position would have been almost unthinkable last summer after what was widely viewed internally as a hugely successful transfer window.

Former Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor doesn’t think Slot should be the Liverpool manager and picked out a number of reasons why.

“Because why talk about what the rest of the league’s doing, when you’ve got problems to sort out in your own team, he should be focused on getting Liverpool playing football. And it’s always: ‘Oh, we were unlucky, we’ve done this, done that’.”

As well as the lack of good results, Agbonlahor picked out other faults with Slot, and added: “I’m sorry, he’s just not got the fibre. He’s not got the soul, the family spirit that you need with Liverpool.

“I know it’s a big act to follow in Jurgen Klopp, I totally understand that, but he’s just not grasped the spirit of Liverpool Football Club.”

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Marseille boss reacts to Nwaneri penalty miss

 Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri didn’t start Marseille’s Coupe de France quarter-final tie against Toulouse on Wednesday night, but the youngster was introduced at the half-time break with the scores level at 1-1.

Marseille took the lead not long after that, but they were pegged back for 2-2 just minutes later, with the game ultimately going to a penalty shootout.

With both teams missing one spot-kick but converting the rest, Nwaneri knew he had to score Marseille’s fifth kick to keep them in the competition, but he sent his effort over the bar.

Speaking after the game, Marseille boss Habib Beye admitted it was unfortunate that Nwaneri and Leo Balerdi had failed to score, but he respected their decision to take the kicks on.

“Unfortunately for Leo [Balerdi] and Ethan [Nwaneri], they missed,” Beye conceded. “It’s simply unfortunate that this technical skill that, at that moment in the game and at that moment in the competition, was not mastered.

“What I like is the personality of a player who decides to go for it. When we discussed it, we were very, very clear about the shooting order. And so, they went for it, and I respect that personality.

“I never judge a player who misses a penalty because you have to take the responsibility to step up.”

Nwaneri’s loan has already had some extreme ups and downs, especially considering he’s less than six weeks into it.

There have been highs, like his debut goal or his match-winning assist against Lyon at the weekend, but there have also been lows, like this cup exit or the impact of Roberto De Zerbi’s departure on his minutes.

These are all things Nwaneri will inevitably have to deal with as a professional footballer, so on the whole it’s a good thing he’s learning these lessons away from Arsenal. It just might not feel so good right now.

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Arsenal defender makes insulting gesture towards Brighton Coach: What he said...

 Piero Hincapie enhanced his growing cult hero status with Arsenal fans by shushing Fabian Hurzerler during last night’s fractious win over Brighton.

The Gunners cemented their position at the top of the Premier League table by claiming all three points on the south coast following a scrappy 1-0 victory.

Bukayo Saka’s deflected ninth minute strike was, ultimately, all that separated the two teams as Mikel Arteta’s battle-hardened crew ground out a 10th win by a one-goal margin this season.

The finer points of a resolute defensive display were, however, lost on Hurzerler who began his Arsenal related complaints in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

Brighton’s German boss was clearly in no mood to give up his agenda last night as Arsenal’s delaying tactics frustrated the home side and prompted the Seagulls’ manager to complain to the fourth official on numerous occasions.

Hurzeler was in the ear of the official early in the first half and began pestering Hincapie while the Arsenal defender was preparing to take a throw.

The Ecuador international had no time for Hurzeler’s complaints and put his finger to his lips while the opposition manager was offering some pointed advice.

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Hincapie started last night’s match at left-back and excelled in that role before he shifted to centre-half following the introduction of Riccardo Calafiori with Arteta opting to withdraw Cristian Mosquera who had been standing in for the injured William Saliba.

The 23-year-old, currently on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, is fast establishing himself as a vital component of the defensive unit that appears hellbent on powering Arsenal to the title.

Whether their conservative style of play may end up yielding the trophies they crave, they clearly haven’t won a fan in Hurzeler who continued his diatribe after the game.

‘I think there was only one team who tried to play football today,’ said Hurzeler, ‘And therefore I’m proud of how they did it.

‘I will never be that kind of manager who tries to win in that way. I want to do well. I want my players to keep improving, keep playing football on the pitch.

‘In the end, of course, every team will manage and waste time, but I think there has to be a limit, and the limit has to be set by the Premier League.

‘The limit has to be set by the referees, at the moment they just do what they want.

‘If I would ask now everyone in the room if he really enjoyed this football game I’m sure maybe one raises his arm because he is a big Arsenal fan but besides that, no chance.’

Arteta, meanwhile, was quick to dismiss the complaints of his Brighton counterpart and focus on the finer points of a victory that helped establish a seven point lead at the Premier League summit.

‘I loved it,’ he said. ‘It was a really tough one, we knew that.

‘We played so many games with very, very high intensity and demands, and you could see in certain moments that we lacked freshness, especially with the ball, to have more composure, for the heart rate to be a little bit lower to make better decisions and be a bit more precise. 

‘So when you don’t do that, you have to do a lot of very good things. You want to win in this league, especially here at Brighton, and the team showed an incredible desire, determination and attitude to win the game.’

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Mikel Artera provides worrisome update on Arsenal star after summer plans

 Former Gunners star turned Pundit Alan Smith says there is ‘every chance’ defender Myles Lewis-Skelly will leave Arsenal this summer after a ‘really difficult season’ at the Emirates Stadium.

Lewis-Skelly, 19, emerged as one of ARSENAL’s most exciting young talents during his breakthrough season, making dozens of appearances across competitions and even earning senior international recognition with England national football team. However, his momentum has slowed significantly during the current campaign, with opportunities in the first team becoming more limited.

Competition for places has intensified under manager Mikel Arteta, particularly in the left-back position where new arrivals and tactical adjustments have pushed the youngster down the pecking order. As a result, Lewis-Skelly has struggled to secure consistent Premier League starts this season.

Smith believes the situation could ultimately lead to a summer departure if the lack of minutes continues. Speaking about the player’s development, the former Arsenal forward suggested that the campaign has been challenging for the young defender

‘It’s been a really difficult season for Myles Lewis-Skelly, hasn’t it? He’s behind two players, really, for the left-back slot,’ Smith told BestBettingSites.

‘If he did get a chance, I’d quite like to see him in midfield. That’s his position. Just see how he fares there. He’s not the best of defenders, so it suits him better in midfield. He’s really creative.

‘I think it’ll probably be a shop window for him. I think there’s every chance he might leave in the summer. We’ll see on that.’

Smith also questioned whether Lewis-Skelly’s long-term future is even in defence. The pundit argued that the England youngster may be better suited to playing in midfield, where his creativity and technical ability could be more effective.

“He’s not the best of defenders,” Smith explained, suggesting that the player’s upbringing as a midfielder could mean he is more comfortable further up the pitch.

The comments have reignited debate among Arsenal supporters about how best to handle one of the club’s brightest academy graduates. Lewis-Skelly joined the Gunners as a child and progressed through the renowned Hale End system before making his senior debut in 2024.

Despite Smith’s suggestion of a potential exit, a number of observers believe ARSENAL could still choose to retain the youngster, either by integrating him into a midfield role or by sending him on loan to gain regular first-team football.

With the summer transfer window approaching, Lewis-Skelly’s future is likely to become a growing talking point. Whether Arsenal decide to keep faith in their academy product or allow him to seek opportunities elsewhere may depend largely on how Arteta plans to shape his squad for next season.

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