Greame Souness refuses to answer question on Arne Slot’s Liverpool future

Graeme Souness believes Liverpool are ‘not the same team’ as last season amid their faltering title defence.

Meanwhile, the former Reds captain refused to answer when asked about Arne Slot’s future as manager.

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The Premier League champions have failed to match the same heights as the Dutch coach’s first season in charge.

Following Slot’s arrival as Jurgen Klopp’s successor in 2024, Liverpool stormed to a record-equalling 20th league title last season.

They ended the campaign 10 points clear of nearest challengers Arsenal after suffering just four league defeats.

However, they have already suffered more than double that amount with nine to their name in 29 league matches so far this term.

Meanwhile, the Reds are 19 points adrift for the Gunners in sixth place.

As well as failing to retain their title, Liverpool are currently at risk of missing out on Champions League qualification.

What has gone wrong for Liverpool?

Souness shared his stance on what has gone wrong for Slot during his second season at Anfield on Tuesday’s White & Jordan.

The former midfielder explained: “I thought he was very good last year. It was the perfect storm for them to win the league last year, but they were consistent.

“You don’t win the league by accident and then it’s just been excuse after excuse this year.

“He said he had 30 preparation notes and he’s thrown 27 or 28 in the bin.

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“Teams are not saying to Liverpool ‘we’re at Anfield today. Let’s give them a really nice game of football and let’s play the way they want us to play’.

“They’ve come up with obstacles and it’s not new. When I was at Liverpool, the likes of Terry Mac (McDermott) hated playing at Anfield. He hated it because he had nowhere to run because people sat deep.

“Did they try to play football against us? No, they would launch everything into the box. They would put a few of us on our backsides to see if we really fancied it on the day. If you play for Liverpool that is the price on the ticket.

“You’re going to be confronted by raw aggression, not so much in the modern game, and you’re gonna be confronted by people wasting time. You’re gonna be confronted by people launching into the box. Deal with it, embrace it.

“No, it’s coming and get on with it and do the business.

“They’re not as aggressive when they don’t have the ball. When you close down you have to do it collectively.”

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He continued: “They talk about players and Liverpool’s midfield being good at this and good at that. Some of them are very good on the ball, but not so good at working hard when you don’t have the ball and making life good.

“They’re not the same team. You have to point out that (Mohamed) Salah has not turned up this year. The numbers tell you that.

“How many games in the last seven years has he been the difference in terms of creating or scoring a goal that would change a game? That’s a big problem for them.

“But they have to stick together at this time. It wouldn’t be beyond them to win the Champions League because they’ve still got that 90 minutes of greatness in them and it could happen whenever the game.”

Does Slot have to win Champions League?

When asked if Slot has to win the Champions League to save his job, though, Souness refused to give an answer.

Instead, he responded: “I won’t answer that one. I just know that they have to improve.”

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The 72-year-old added: “He had a glorious year last year. You don’t get a job normally as a football manager with a club going well, but that was one of the rare occasions where he walked into Anfield and inherited a great, great situation.

“I don’t think it changed too much looking at last year from my eyes and this year you can bet he has done everything the same, starting training at the same time using the same words, using the same training methods and preparation for games.

“It’s not happened. So he’ll be scratching his head saying why have they dropped off so much.”

Souness once again refused to comment on Slot’s future after being asked if Liverpool could replace their manager.

He admitted: “I’m not going to get into that. I know what you want me to say. think Liverpool is a great football club and historically they give the managers lots and lots of time to get it right”

Liverpool face Galatasaray in the last 16 of the Champions League, with the first leg in Turkey on Tuesday night, live on talkSPORT 2.

Alongside the FA Cup, it remains their only reasonable chance of silverware this season.

Slot’s side have been drawn away to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals after beating Wolves on Friday.