Arne Slot has confirmed he will be the Liverpool manager next season and said he has ‘every reason to believe’ he will still be in charge.
The Reds head coach has been under scrutiny for several months after the Premier League champions’ title defence fell apart and Liverpool had to settle for a top five finish.
Ahead of the final away trip of the season at Aston Villa on Friday night, Slot insists he will be the boss next season but admits it has not been a good season.
‘I don’t think I am deciding that alone by myself, but I have every reason to believe I am the Liverpool manager next season,’ he said.
‘First of all, I am contracted to this club and second of all from all the talks we are having. That is my take on it.
‘But if you don’t have the best season, especially if you compare with last season – if you compare it with other seasons you might have a different debate – this has definitely not been a great season.
Ahead of the final away trip of the season at Aston Villa on Friday night Arne Slot has insisted he will be the Reds boss next season
‘Then it is also normal that criticism comes. We have all had our share, and with “all” I mean the players have had their share, the manager has had their share and other people in the club have had their share. That is how things work nowadays if you don’t win the league.’
Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah is in line to make his Liverpool return at Villa Park as his final fortnight at the club begins – but the Egyptian is only expected to make a cameo appearance if any.
The forward will depart at the end of this season and will play his final game at Anfield against Brentford next Sunday but his farewell tour has been disrupted somewhat by a hamstring injury in recent weeks.
He is set to be in the squad but Slot said he is only available for ‘a few minutes’.
Goalkeeper Alisson is a 50-50. The Brazil No 1 has trained but might not make it for the trip to the Midlands. Florian Wirtz is also a doubt after a stomach bug this week and the German is on antibiotics, though defender Ibrahima Konate is OK after limping off last week.
