Arne Slot is confronting circumstances that bear an uncanny resemblance to those that surrounded Jurgen Klopp before the long-serving coach chose to walk away from Liverpool. Midway through the 2023/24 campaign, after nearly a decade at Anfield, Klopp shocked the football world by confirming he would step aside.
The German cited exhaustion and the constant strain of chasing trophies as reasons for his decision, explaining that he no longer had the energy to maintain Liverpool’s demanding standards. In the weeks ahead of his farewell, Klopp spoke openly about the thought process that drove him to leave — a thought process that may eventually resonate with Slot as well.
Klopp admitted he was concerned that staying on would only prolong a downward spiral following a fifth-place finish and a trophyless run in the previous season. By stepping away, he believed he was acting in the club’s best interests.
Klopp’s reflections on burnout
Speaking to Sky Sports in May 2024, Klopp acknowledged that Liverpool’s poor spell had sparked comments about him appearing drained. He insisted he was simply aging, but he also made it clear how consuming the role had become.
He noted that remaining fully committed every day was essential, adding that anything less than complete focus was insufficient at a club of Liverpool’s stature. The thought of preparing for another pre-season and making major decisions without full strength convinced him that it was time to depart. Klopp underlined that managing Liverpool demanded nonstop dedication — a job he felt he could no longer perform at the level required.
Slot under strain as results collapse
Slot, though not dealing with the same long-term fatigue, will undoubtedly identify with Klopp’s expectations of elite performance — expectations that Liverpool are currently falling far short of. The team is enduring their most alarming sequence in decades, losing nine of their previous 12 games across all competitions.
What once looked like a solid defence of their Premier League crown has deteriorated rapidly into a crisis on multiple fronts. A 4-1 loss to PSV in midweek marked the third consecutive defeat by a margin of three goals, following heavy 3-0 setbacks against Nottingham Forest and Manchester City.
That sequence has knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League qualifying spots and dragged them into the lower half of the league table — a position they haven’t been in this late in a season since 2012/13. While the club’s leadership is still behind Slot for now, that support may diminish if results do not improve soon.
A slightly kinder run of fixtures may provide some breathing room, with West Ham next before meetings with promoted sides Sunderland and Leeds.
The fixture list does offer a degree of relief: up next is a meeting with a struggling West Ham side, followed by clashes with newly promoted Sunderland and Leeds.