Arne Slot future: Liverpool boss expected to stay at Anfield next season as club move closer to Champions League qualification | Soccer News

Arne Slot is expected to continue as Liverpool head coach next season, Sky Sports News understood, because the club is closing in on Champions League qualification.

Any doubts about the Dutchman’s future appear to be quickly fading as a seven-point gap has opened up between fifth-placed Liverpool and sixth-placed Chelsea.

Fifth place will secure Champions League football next season following Arsenal’s progress to the semi-finals – and Liverpool’s form has picked up as Chelsea slip.

Slot, who led Liverpool to the Premier League title last season, has come under pressure in his second campaign, with the Reds set to finish the season without a trophy and well off the pace set by Arsenal and Manchester City.

But keep talking Monday night footballCarragher said: “Arne Slot’s work has been talked about all season. We talked about it a lot on Monday night football.

“There is probably a split in the Liverpool fans over whether he should stay or go, but the noise I’m hearing is that Slot will be the Liverpool manager next season if they can secure Champions League qualification, which they look like at the moment.”

Sky Sports News understood to be the case after a season of increasing speculation over Slot’s future as a transitional season at Anfield brought frustrations on and off the pitch.

Slot will retain the support of the hierarchy ahead of a summer in which more work is expected to be done to the squad following the announcement that Mo Salah will be leaving.

RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande is one of their top targets for a new forward, while several other positions are also being looked at.

Van Dijk gives honest assessment of ‘sub-standard’ Liverpool season after derby win

Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool still need to do better despite their Merseyside derby win over Everton at the Hill Dickinson. The Liverpool captain scored late on as the Reds put themselves in a strong position to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Liverpool still have to play two of the top five in their hunt for the Champions League and also face sixth-placed Chelsea.

“We still have five games left against teams who are also fighting for the Champions League places,” Van Dijk told Sky Sports after the derby victory.

“Every game is a big one. We’re very disappointed as a whole for the season we’re playing because of the quality we have. It’s below standard.

“But we have to keep fighting, keep going and make the best of this poor season we’re having. That’s the reality, on to the next one. Everton were a good three points, and next up is Crystal Palace at home, who we haven’t been able to beat for many, many games before.

“(The situation) is certainly not Liverpool-worthy, in my opinion, but it’s the reality, and it was important that we got the win. I’m glad we did it.”