Arne Slot issued a defiant message after Liverpool were thrashed 4-1 by PSV, insisting he was ‘feeling safe’ despite mounting pressure amid his side’s dismal run.
The Reds have now lost nine of their last 12 matches as the Dutch side ran out comfortable winners on an embarrassing night for Slot and his team at Anfield.
And while he may not be in immediate danger the next two games at West Ham on Sunday and Sunderland at home in a week’s time have become pivotal.
‘I am feeling safe, I am OK. I have got a lot of support from above,’ said Slot after Liverpool’s second-heaviest European defeat.
‘It would be nice to turn it around and get a victory, of course, but if you are not doing well then it is normal that questions are asked.
‘I am OK with my position. It is not the first time I’ve been in a difficult position but it is about time that we turned it around.
Liverpool have now lost nine of their last 12 matches under Arne Slot after being soundly beaten by PSV
Slot insists he is not concerned about his position and said all of his team can ‘do better’
‘I’m not worried. What I mean by that is my focus is on other things than on my own position. I need to do better and that’s what I’m trying to do every single day.’
Slot has to shoulder plenty of the responsibility for not only not turning things around but also not changing things up when it is obvious things are going so badly but even he cannot be held accountable for individual errors.
Mistakes are following Ibrahima Konate around this season but the malaise is now even affecting his centre-back partner Virgil van Dijk, with the usually unflappable captain at fault for a needless handball which allowed Ivan Perisic to open the scoring with a penalty.
Dominik Szoboszlai, the one player who has performed anywhere near the required standard this season, equalised but goals from Guus Til and two from Couhaib Driouech embarrassed the hosts in the second half.
Most of the players made a hasty retreat from Anfield with even the usually reliable Van Dijk avoiding reporters.
‘I think it is always about the team and I think we can all do better; individuals you are talking about but it goes down to everyone including myself,’ added Slot.
‘I don’t think this is the time to emphasise individual errors.’
