Liverpool face a defining run of at least 10 matches before the season ends — and up to 15 if they reach both the FA Cup and Champions League finals. How the club navigates that stretch will largely determine whether this campaign is salvaged and will have a major bearing on Arne Slot’s future at Anfield.
Club sources say Slot’s position is secure for now, despite some German reports to the contrary. Still, failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League would amplify pressure on the head coach and test the patience of owners Fenway Sports Group. England’s domestic results have opened an extra European spot this season, giving fifth-placed Liverpool a little breathing room: Opta currently put their league qualification chances at 22.82 per cent. With seven Premier League matches remaining, and teams from sixth-placed Chelsea to 11th-placed Sunderland only six points behind, there is limited margin for error.
Squad issues have made the challenge harder. After a record-breaking £446m summer spend, depth has been exposed at times. Key absences — Alisson Becker and Mohamed Salah before the international break, plus Jeremie Frimpong while on international duty — have stretched resources. British-record signing Alexander Isak is closing in on a comeback after four months out, which would be a timely boost. Salah’s public announcement that he will leave at the end of the season also complicates selection decisions; Slot may feel obliged to play him in remaining fixtures regardless of form.
Cup progress would alleviate pressure and lift morale. A Champions League triumph in Budapest at the end of May would guarantee European football next season regardless of league position — a reminder that late cup runs can rescue a stalling domestic campaign. Nearly 25 years after Gerard Houllier declared his side “10 games from greatness,” Slot will be hoping for a different outcome as he faces his own run of decisive fixtures.
Key upcoming tests
– FA Cup quarter-final — Manchester City (a), April 4
A trip to the Etihad is a difficult draw. City’s Champions League exit gives Pep Guardiola scope to select a full-strength XI, while Slot must juggle minutes with the PSG and Fulham fixtures close by. The extent to which he risks starters — and the fitness of Salah and Alisson, plus whether Isak can play — will signal how highly Liverpool value the FA Cup this season.
– Champions League quarter-final — Paris Saint-Germain, April 8 (a) and April 14 (h)
Liverpool meet PSG in the last eight for the second straight season. PSG eliminated Liverpool on penalties last year and, under Luis Enrique, arrive more settled with clearer planning between legs. Reaching the semi-finals would be a major achievement given Liverpool’s recent inconsistency.
– Home run against London clubs — Fulham (h) April 11; Crystal Palace (h) April 25; Chelsea (h) May 9; Brentford (h) TBC
A scheduling quirk leaves Liverpool’s final four home games against London opposition. Fulham come between the PSG legs; Slot has yet to beat them since taking charge. Palace have troubled the Reds this campaign, and late-season visits by Chelsea and Brentford could effectively act as Champions League play-offs.
– Tough away fixtures — Everton (a) April 19; Manchester United (a) and Aston Villa (a) TBC
Away form has been a weakness, and Liverpool’s closing road trips are daunting. The Merseyside derby at Everton’s new stadium comes with Everton close in the table. Old Trafford and Villa Park have also been difficult venues historically — dropped points there would further damage top-four hopes.
What it means
Slot must strike a delicate balance between rotation and risk across cup and league fixtures while managing injuries and the distraction of Salah’s impending exit. Progress in the FA Cup and Champions League could buy time and reshape perceptions of the season; failure to secure Champions League football via the league would increase scrutiny. The next 10–15 matches will not only decide Liverpool’s final standings this season but will play a large role in determining whether Arne Slot remains the right person to lead the club forward.