Arne Slot sack criteria laid out with Liverpool boss under huge pressure

Arne Slot has not been able to replicate his fantastic first season in charge of Liverpool this term with his side lingering outside the Premier League table's top four

Arne Slot has been unable to steer Liverpool to a valiant Premier League title defence in what has been a lacklustre season. And ex-Arsenal star Paul Merson thinks the Dutchman could be sacked if he fails to secure Champions League qualification.

Having guided the Reds to the top-flight crown in his debut season, Slot, who had big boots to fill after replacing Jurgen Klopp, was expected to produce another impressive campaign. But thus far his team have fallen flat this time around.

Despite spending over £400million in the summer, Slot's squad seem to have regressed. They have lost nine times in the league this season and drawn a further six, leaving them with a battle on their hands for a Champions League place.

While they are still competing in Europe and the FA Cup, Slot has come under pressure in the Anfield hot seat for below-par results. Pundit Merson thinks his Liverpool tenure could come to an abrupt end if he doesn't breach the top four, or five, depending on UEFA coefficient rankings.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson said: "If he [Slot] won the FA Cup, but didn't finish in Champions League positions it wouldn't make any difference at all. I think Liverpool have got to get in the Champions League with the [financial] fair play rule.

"The more you get into the Champions League, the better quality player you can bring in. I think they need to get a centre half and they'll be right back up there again next year.

"They've just been off it this year, it's been weird really, and it is hard when you've won the league like they have. They've been in a fight the last two or three years as well, new players come in.

"Again, they're playing for Liverpool, one of the biggest clubs in the world. It's taken them time to handle it, and they're top-quality players, but the club's just a huge football club.

"He will have to get in the top four, I would have thought, otherwise he might be [the next] Tottenham manager," quipped Merson, making reference to the relegation-threatened Spurs.

Slot doesn't appear to be worried about his position in charge at Liverpool, however. Speaking on Sunday, he said: "We know how difficult it is to achieve what we've achieved last season.

"We played the League Cup final [against Newcastle ], we were very, very, very close to beating Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16 round [Champions League].

"This season, I think it's safe to say and fair to say that this season has been much more of a struggle than last season. But still, we are able to win things, quarter-finals of the FA Cup and in the last 16 in Europe.

"I think we've got a squad that has shown this season already that we've improved. And these players will be able to improve much more in the upcoming years. So, as I said many times, the future looks bright for Liverpool."