Arne Slot says he has ‘every reason to believe’ he will still be Liverpool manager next season – despite their calamitous defence of the Premier League title.
The Reds head coach has found his position under growing scrutiny for several months after a poor start to the season which has seen the club switch focus from title challengers to finishing inside the top five.
Ahead of the final away trip of the season at Aston Villa on Friday night, Slot insisted he will be the boss next season but admits it has not been a good season.
‘I don’t think I am deciding that alone by myself, but I have every reason to believe I am the Liverpool manager next season,’ he said.
‘First of all, I am contracted to this club and second of all from all the talks we are having. That is my take on it.
‘But if you don’t have the best season, especially if you compare with last season – if you compare it with other seasons you might have a different debate – this has definitely not been a great season.
Ahead of the final away trip of the season at Aston Villa on Friday night Arne Slot has insisted he will be the Reds boss next season
‘Then it is also normal that criticism comes. We have all had our share, and with “all” I mean the players have had their share, the manager has had their share and other people in the club have had their share. That is how things work nowadays if you don’t win the league.’
Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah is in line to make his Liverpool return at Villa Park as his final fortnight at the club begins – but the Egyptian is only expected to make a cameo appearance if any.
The forward will depart at the end of this season and will play his final game at Anfield against Brentford next Sunday but his farewell tour has been disrupted somewhat by a hamstring injury in recent weeks.
He is set to be in the squad but Slot said he is only available for ‘a few minutes’.
Goalkeeper Alisson is a 50-50. The Brazil No 1 has trained but might not make it for the trip to the Midlands. Florian Wirtz is also a doubt after a stomach bug this week and the German is on antibiotics, though defender Ibrahima Konate is OK after limping off last week.
Timber targets cup final return
Mikel Arteta hinted Jurrien Timber could be fit for the Champions League final against PSG at the end of the month.
The right back has been unavailable since being forced off in the first half of a 2-0 win over Everton in mid-March but has been a huge part of the north London club’s success this season, playing 43 games in all competitions.
The Gunners have two Premier League games to play, against Burnley on Monday night and then at Crystal Palace on May 24, as they zero in on a first title in 22 years.
Jurrien Timber has been sidelined with injury since mid-March but had been one of Arsenal’s best players this season
Then comes the Champions League final in Budapest against Paris Saint-Germain on May 30, which is the target for Timber’s return.
Arteta said: ‘He (Timber) has progressed a little bit in the last few days. We will try to get him back and available as quick as possible. He’s doing everything he possibly can to help the team in any capacity.’
On Timber’s chances of returning before the end of the season, he added: ‘There is a chance, but how big that chance is I cannot tell you.’
The Spaniard said he doesn’t know if Riccardo Calafiori will be available for Monday’s match, adding: ‘Hopefully it’s not something serious but we’ll have to wait and see how he reacts.’
Ben White, who suffered medial collateral ligament damage in his right knee against West Ham last weekend, is out for the long term.
‘It looks like a long-term injury,’ added Arteta. ‘At the moment, the focus is that we can have him back to be available for Arsenal. That’s not going to happen in many, many weeks.’
