It also helped to further dampen the speculation surrounding Slot’s future. Back-to-back Premier League victories have shifted the momentum. As did the encouraging display at Anfield despite their 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Champions League qualification for a third successive season now looks probable. That could safeguard Slot’s position beyond this summer despite such a deflating title defence.
Carragher said on Sky Sports: “Arne Slot’s job has been spoken about all season. We’ve spoken about it a lot on Monday Night Football.
“There’s probably a split in the Liverpool supporters over whether he should stay or go. But the noises I am hearing is Slot will be the Liverpool manager next season if they can secure Champions League qualification, which they look like doing right now.”
Following the derby victory, Carragher commented: “The result is absolutely huge for Liverpool when you consider the Chelsea result yesterday.”
The Reds now require nine more points from their remaining five matches to secure a top-five finish, regardless of what Chelsea or any other side below them manages to achieve. Their next challenge sees them welcome Crystal Palace to Anfield before making the trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.
Chelsea then make the journey to Anfield in a fixture that could ultimately determine who claims fifth place. Aston Villa are Liverpool’s penultimate opponents this campaign, before Brentford visit Merseyside on the final day.
Carragher further remarked after the derby: “When that board went up for 11 minutes, I’d have shook (hands) with anyone and taken a point from a Liverpool point of view. With the situation with the goalkeeper, Everton were a little bit more threatening. Liverpool were a small team towards the end of that game, and I was fearful of set-pieces.
“When you think of how Liverpool have won this game – two of the absolute legends of the club have done it, they won’t be here much longer, Salah and probably Van Dijk in 12 months’ time.
“Two of the absolute greats. Salah has done it again against Liverpool’s biggest rivals, as he always does. Against Everton or Man Utd, you can always rely upon him.”
