While Liverpool have been on an extended unbeaten run in recent times, it has not meant that the pressure on Arne Slot has lessened any at all. If anything, its's only gotten louder.
Dismal draws against Burnley, Fulham, Leeds United (Twice) and Sunderland have not been exactly banner moments for the Dutch coach or the club.
Even tight victories over Tottenham and Wolves did little to assuage the pressure-cooker that has been building at Anfield. Now, with a certain manager available, the rumors and intensity are only going to ramp up.
The Xabi Alonso Effect
Real Madrid and the Spanish coach recently agreed to part ways after only six months together. Alonso, who was hugely successful at Bayer Leverkusen, leading them to an invincible Bundesliga season, could not replicate his success in the Spanish capital.
However, before he eventually departed Leverkusen and took the Real Madrid job, he was seen as a very firm favorite to take over for the departing Jurgen Klopp.
At the time, Alonso said he wanted to to stay another season in Germany to continue honing his craft. A respectable stance, but one that led Liverpool to make a move for Slot, who as we know, would secure a Premier League title in his first season with the Reds.
It looked like both parties won, Alonso got to manage Real Madrid and Slot was going to win trophies galore in England.
Yet, here we are now. Alonso is out of a job and Slot has regressed to a stunning degree in Year 2.
The enjoyable and ruthlessly efficient side we saw stroll to the title last season has not been seen very often, if at all, this season. Prior to this run, a 4-1 hammering to PSV in the Champions League was seen as the final straw to many.
While we have somewhat righted the ship in that we no longer lose, it has done little to quiet Slot's critics. Those same critics will now be louder as they call for Alonso to take the reigns.
Slot Magic Wearing Off
It seemed clear that everything Slot touched turned to gold in his first campaign at Liverpool. The players were buying in, the tactics were sound and logical.
Everything was flowing almost too perfectly, too soon. We see that now in hindsight, as things have only gotten worse.
Down the stretch of last season, once the title was secured, Liverpool began throwing out some questionable results and pefromances. That carried over into this season, where the Reds were winning, but doing it in unsustainable ways late on.
Losses to Brentford, Crystal Palace, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and PSV meant his seat was suddenly scalding.
A solid December has been followed by drab outings in the new year. Liverpool have been listless in front of goal. There is no clear direction in the midfield. Set-pieces have been a disaster. The defense has been sloppy at best more often than not.
On top of that, Slot has struggled to implement his £400 million worth of summer signings. Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong have only recently begun to shine, but they are outweighed by the bad.
Marseille UCL Trip Could Be Huge
On Wednesday, Liverpool make the journey to France to square off against Marseille in the penultimate Champions League league-phase match, with a Top 8 spot, and subsequent playoff bye, in play.
Coming off a stretch of such disjointed performances from his side, with results mediocre at best, Slot is in dire need of a fine showing in this one.
Another dismal display, perhaps a drab 0-0 draw, could be more damaging than one would think. With a name like Xabi Alonso on the market again, every poor Liverpool showing or result is going to be scrutinized.
The Dutchman cannot afford another tactical mishap either, as the return of Mohamed Salah will give him a much needed boost in terms of firepower, which has been sorely missing during this run.
If Liverpool can come out and run the show on foreign soil and win in style, that would go a long way towards getting Slot some much needed respite, if only temporary.