Liverpool must sack Arne Slot and replace him with Andoni Iraola, insists former Reds winger Jermaine Pennant.
Slot is facing mounting pressure on his position as Reds head coach following a poor season, which has only increased after Mohamed Salah appeared to take aim at him in a stinging social media post.
Slot is experiencing the toughest period of his Liverpool tenure[/caption]
Liverpool fell to their 12th Premier League defeat of the campaign against Aston Villa on Friday, as they were beaten 4-2 at Villa Park.
It was a result which confirmed a top-four finish for Villa, while it marked yet another new low for Slot’s side this term.
The Reds have mounted a dismal title defence, sitting 20 points behind leaders Arsenal, and have now shipped over 50 goals in a 38-game Premier League season for the first time in their history.
Their latest defeat also means Liverpool have now suffered their joint-most losses in all competitions this century, with 19.
Less than 24 hours later, Salah took to social media to release an explosive statement where he appeared to criticise Slot’s tactics.
In it, he called for his club to ‘go back to being the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear’ – a direct reference to the renowned tactics of Slot’s predecessor Jurgen Klopp.
Change imminent?
Salah’s comments have divided opinion, with some calling on the departing star to be dropped in what is his final match for Liverpool against Brentford at Anfield on Sunday.
Meanwhile, others have claimed the Egyptian’s comments are a clear sign that Slot has lost the dressing room, and must now be replaced.
One man who subscribes to the latter view is fan and former Liverpool player Pennant, who shared his thoughts on talkSPORT’s Hawksbee and Jacobs.
Pennant said: “If the board thinks that this is the guy to stay in charge, then something’s wrong with the board.
Salah played the final 16 minutes of Liverpool’s defeat against Aston Villa, before letting loose on social media[/caption]
“Everyone can see this Liverpool team, see that they broke almost every single record which is not good – the most goals conceded, the most losses ever in a campaign, you name it.
“The stats are shocking.”
Insisting Salah’s sly dig at Slot was fair, Pennant claimed Slot’s time is up, as he hit out at his tactics and said Liverpool cannot sanction another summer of spending after shelling out £446million last year on the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.
He continued: “What he’s saying [Salah] is stating the obvious. And if the board ultimately think that next season is going to be any different…
“I’m just shocked, because personally, I don’t see how [things will change].
“Are they going to spend another £450million, half a billion to bring in some more players?
“It’s down to philosophy the way Liverpool play, how to play. They’re playing like a mid-table team – they just sit back, they wait for teams to come onto them. There’s no threat going forward, they’re not aggressive.
“So you’ve built a great machine and then all of a sudden you change these same cogs in that machine and expect to get the right output. It’s just not going to work.”
Pennant: Iraola has what Liverpool need
After calling on Liverpool to cut ties with Slot, Pennant was then quizzed on who he would like to succeed the Dutchman at Anfield.
The question came just a day after Chelsea confirmed Xabi Alonso’s appointment as their new manager – a move which came as a bitter blow to many Reds’ fans.
Following his sacking by Real Madrid in January, ex-Reds star Alonso was tipped for the Anfield job amid Slot’s continued struggles.
But after this possibility was shut down, Pennant tipped outgoing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola to take the reins at Liverpool.
The Spaniard is set to depart the Vitality Stadium in the summer after an impressive three-year stint with the Cherries, who he has led to the brink of European qualification.
Insisting Iraola’s style of play would suit Liverpool perfectly, Pennant said: “What he’s done for Bournemouth was great.
“And I’m sure if he had some better players at his disposal, maybe he would get a good tune out of them.
“Because you watch Bournemouth, they went to Arsenal [and won 2-1], they didn’t look like they were scared. They were in their faces, made it difficult, and came away with the three points.
“And that’s what you need to be when you’re a big team.”