Liverpool 'have to be careful' with Arne Slot as Alexander Isak issue addressed

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been given strong backing by a former Premier League coach

Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has offered a rousing backing for Arne Slot to continue as Liverpool boss next season.

Slot has come under increasing pressure with the Reds having endured a disappointing defence of their Premier League crown and having not yet secured Champions League qualification with one game remaining.

Scrutiny of his tactical methods increased at the weekend with the latest pointed message from the departing Mohamed Salah that was a thinly-veiled criticism of the title-winning manager.

And Slot's Dutch compatriot Meulensteen has urged Liverpool not to be too hasty when they consider their position in the summer.

OPINION

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"They've obviously been disappointed but they have to be careful," he said. "You have to realise last year they won the league in great fashion.

"I maintain that, I don't move away from that, because I said I think Slot will do a great job because I know him, I like him, I like his thoughts about football.

"Sometimes managers go through a little bit of a poor spell. Then the key is to stick with him and to make sure he can put it right. I mean, Jurgen Klopp had a spell where they really couldn't get it going because they had all this mental and physical fatigue. Don't read too much into it.

"The key is the people behind (the scenes) are fully supportive of the manager and they believe he's the right man.

"He's got a transfer window to make sure he now brings in players to bring back Liverpool to what it was. And then the start of the season is so obviously important."

Salah has called for a return to the "heavy metal football" that was successful under Jurgen Klopp, despite Slot's methods having seen Liverpool romp to the championship last season.

Meulensteen believes last summer's protracted attempt to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United in a £125million British transfer record has backfired on the Reds, who have been further hampered by a lengthy injury list.

And speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest World Cup odds, he said: "Hard to put a finger on it, but definitely the Isak saga has played a role. They haven't found the same sort of fluidity.

"I think Slot has built massively on Jurgen Klopp when he came in, and rightly so. He made the players adjust to this (his style) and (said to them) keep doing what you're doing because you've been successful. They were so dynamic, so energetic.

"However, at some point, they've flipped too much to the other side because they've gone a little bit too slow, too laboured, the possession and everything.

"So that whole energetic, intense, dynamic style Klopp had has disappeared. And they've not realised it, I think. And then obviously they've got a lot of injuries and whatever that comes with it."

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