Arne Slot position remains under review as Liverpool target Champions League football

[p]It had been anticipated that Slot would have agreed to a new contract by now. [/p][p]His current deal runs until June 2027, and at the start of the campaign, indications were that fresh terms were being prepared to remove any doubt over his future heading into the 2026 World Cup summer.[/p][p]However, the turbulence of this season has delayed those discussions.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] host [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/west-ham/Cxq57r8g/"]West Ham United[/a] this weekend, and the scrutiny will extend beyond the final scoreline. Performance levels, cohesion and stylistic identity will all be assessed as the club’s hierarchy evaluate whether tangible progress is being made.[/p][p]A recent upturn in results has reignited hopes of Champions League qualification - a scenario that looked improbable when the Reds slumped to 13th earlier in the campaign. [/p][p]Now, they are back in contention for a return to Europe’s elite competition.[/p][image alt="Premier League table" id="fb8f4c6a-cf46-4f83-afa8-e22bdcb33d85" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="fa398a07-4d67-4000-9794-1d066caac1cf" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]With the Premier League almost certain to secure a fifth Champions League berth once again, that additional place offers a significant opportunity. Finishing inside that bracket would at least signal that Liverpool remain competitive at the top table during a period of transition.[/p][p]Expectations were considerably higher at the outset, particularly following a substantial summer spending spree designed to build on the title-winning momentum Slot delivered in his first season. Yet replicating those heights has proven far more challenging.[/p][p]Slot guided Liverpool to the Premier League crown but has since had to steer the club through an emotionally and physically draining campaign, including a period of mourning following the tragic death of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diogo-jota/lr5I22zF/"]Diogo Jota[/a]. [/p][p]Those circumstances are understood to be part of the broader context being considered internally.[/p][p]There have been signs of structural improvement, especially defensively. Better organisation has offered encouragement. [/p][p]The persistent concern, however, remains in attack. Injuries have disrupted rhythm, key forwards have struggled for consistency, and the cutting edge that once defined Liverpool has too often been missing.[/p][p]The recent victory at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nottingham/UsushcZr/"]Nottingham Forest[/a] was particularly troubling - even though they won. The manner of the first-half performance, when passes went astray and tempo was absent, was a jarring regression for a team seeking stability.[/p][p]Slot understands that sporting director Richard Hughes is leading a comprehensive analysis of the overall situation, weighing up team development, progression and performance data alongside the results.[/p][embed guid="a370ef9d-cb6b-4791-9a8d-57c82794c2f4" url="https://x.com/LFC/status/2027051042907537842" social-type="twitter" /][p]Sources confirm to Flashscore that multiple criteria are being applied and, at present, there is no definitive indication of the club’s direction beyond this season.[/p][p]What is becoming clear is that momentum matters and victory over West Ham - achieved with authority and in keeping with Liverpool’s established identity - would represent more than three points. [/p][p]It would be evidence of forward movement at a time when the club’s leadership is carefully assessing whether Slot remains the right man to guide the next phase of their evolution.[/p][image alt="Dean Jones" id="1d7cacd9-9f6b-4bf2-9ae4-c5e190234f5e" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="2c7e8d2a-d414-4621-9417-c231110a797b" original-width="1200" original-height="380" /]