Arne Slot sack criteria laid out with Liverpool boss under huge pressure

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Arne Slot has been unable to steer Liverpool to a valiant Premier League title defence in what has been a lacklustre season. And ex- Arsenal star Paul Merson thinks the Dutchman could be sacked if he fails to secure Champions League qualification.

Having guided the Reds to the top-flight crown in his debut season, Slot, who had big boots to fill after replacing Jurgen Klopp , was expected to produce another impressive campaign. But thus far his team have fallen flat this time around.

Despite spending over £400million in the summer , Slot's squad seem to have regressed. They have lost nine times in the league this season and drawn a further six, leaving them with a battle on their hands for a Champions League place.

While they are still competing in Europe and the FA Cup , Slot has come under pressure in the Anfield hot seat for below-par results. Pundit Merson thinks his Liverpool tenure could come to an abrupt end if he doesn't breach the top four, or five, depending on UEFA coefficient rankings .

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Speaking on Sky Sports , Merson said: "If he [Slot] won the FA Cup, but didn't finish in Champions League positions it wouldn't make any difference at all. I think Liverpool have got to get in the Champions League with the [financial] fair play rule.

"The more you get into the Champions League, the better quality player you can bring in. I think they need to get a centre half and they'll be right back up there again next year.

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"They've just been off it this year, it's been weird really, and it is hard when you've won the league like they have. They've been in a fight the last two or three years as well, new players come in.

"Again, they're playing for Liverpool, one of the biggest clubs in the world . It's taken them time to handle it, and they're top-quality players, but the club's just a huge football club.

"He will have to get in the top four, I would have thought, otherwise he might be [the next] Tottenham manager," quipped Merson, making reference to the relegation-threatened Spurs.

Slot doesn't appear to be worried about his position in charge at Liverpool, however. Speaking on Sunday, he said: "We know how difficult it is to achieve what we've achieved last season.

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"We played the League Cup final [against Newcastle ], we were very, very, very close to beating Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16 round [Champions League].

"This season, I think it's safe to say and fair to say that this season has been much more of a struggle than last season. But still, we are able to win things, quarter-finals of the FA Cup and in the last 16 in Europe.

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