"Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group face a familiar dilemma. As the reigning Premier League champions continue to suffer an alarming decline, and fan discontent rises, FSG must decide what to do about head coach Arne Slot. Slot has lost the faith of many supporters, with former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy telling BBC Sport it is a conundrum he feels will end with the Dutchman's departure within months."
"It was in 2015 that Brendan Rodgers without the credit in the bank Slot accumulated with last season's title triumph suffered the same fate among Liverpool's fanbase as they ended the season with a humiliating 6-1 loss at Stoke City to finish sixth, 25 points behind champions Chelsea. FSG, led by principal owner John W Henry and chairman Tom Werner, had to decide whether to stick or twist with the manager who almost brought the Premier League title back to Anfield in 2014, eventually keeping faith with Rodgers but with a rebuilt backroom staff."
"Rodgers was backed with big money to sign players of the calibre of Christian Benteke from Aston Villa for 32.5m and Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim for 29m, who went on to be a Liverpool great, while recouping 49m from the sale of Raheem Sterling to Manchester City. The ploy failed as Rodgers was sacked in early October, replaced by Jurgen Klopp. It was the start of a new era of success. Liverpool won the Champions League in 2019, and the following year, a first Premier League title for three decades."
"So what will FSG do now? Will they keep faith and bankroll a head coach who was backed with a 450m transfer outlay last summer, or cut their losses to make a fresh start? There are currently no indications that FSG are planning to part with Slot, but the voices of Liverpool supporters are rising in volume against him. Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea was played out in an atmosphere of toxicity rarely heard at Anfield."
Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, face pressure as Premier League champions suffer a sharp decline and supporters grow increasingly dissatisfied with head coach Arne Slot. Danny Murphy says the situation feels like a conundrum likely to end with Slot’s departure within months. FSG has faced similar circumstances before, when Brendan Rodgers was kept after a poor 2015 season that included a heavy 6-1 defeat at Stoke and a sixth-place finish. Rodgers was backed with major spending, including signings such as Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino, and money recouped from Raheem Sterling’s sale, but he was sacked in October and replaced by Jurgen Klopp. Liverpool later won the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020. FSG currently shows no sign of parting with Slot, but fan hostility has intensified, including during a toxic atmosphere at a 1-1 home draw with Chelsea.
Read at www.bbc.com
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