Jamie Carragher has given an insight into the "noises" he is hearing about Arne Slot's future at Liverpool as the club continue to push for Champions League qualification.
On what could prove to be a pivotal afternoon at the Hill Dickinson, Liverpool recorded a 2-1 win over their Merseyside rivals on Sunday after a 100th-minute winner from Virgil van Dijk helped them go seven points clear of Chelsea in the race for Champions League football.
It was a crucial win for the Reds and their manager Arne Slot, who has been under a significant amount of pressure in recent months following a dip in form that sees them 15 points behind league leaders Arsenal with five games to play.
Earlier this month, Slot discussed the backing he has received from the club's hierarchy.
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“I always emphasise that I feel tremendous support from the owners, as well as from Richard (Hughes) and Michael (Edwards)," the Dutchman said. "It might sound strange, but I also feel the support of our fans.”
On Monday night, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher spoke about the Merseyside derby and the impact that victory could have on Arne Slot's future as they moved closer to securing a place in next season's Champions League.
"Arne Slot's job has been spoken about all season. We've spoken about it a lot on Monday Night Football," he said on Sky Sports.
"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."
As well as suggesting Slot will remain at Liverpool if they secure Champions League qualification, Carragher gave his take on Sunday's game.
"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," he said. "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."
Fernando Torres backed to 'definitely' become Liverpool manager
As talk continues around Slot's future, former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has been tipped to manage his former club one day.
Torres, who scored 81 goals in 142 appearances for the Reds, has made the successful transition into coaching with Atletico Madrid's youth and B teams, and former Spain international Fernando Llorente believes he has all the credentials to thrive in the Anfield hot seat.
Speaking to Hajper, he said: “Fernando Torres as Liverpool manager one day? Definitely. He's taken a different path to Cesc Fabregas, he has been patient and has preferred to start little by little with the youth team, gaining experience.
“I think Fernando will become a great coach because he had an incredible career, knows a lot about football and has surely been preparing for the right moment to make the jump.”
Armando de la Morena, a former Atletico Madrid coach, was full of praise for Torres as he continued to impress on the touchline.
Speaking to Marca in 2022, he said: "A coach like Fernando, knowing his career a bit, as a player and always with the respect that he has acted, has the conditions to be a great coach.
"I know it from the players too, who tell me wonders about him, how he transmits, how he gives them the concepts. So what I see in him is that if everything is going the right way, then we have a future coach for Spanish football and for Atletico and hopefully for the national team as well. Whatever he wants.
"He spoke very well to you even when he was still a kid, 17, 18 years old. He is always respectable both on and off the field, for his manners and behaviour. After all, a coach has to be that. An example both outside and inside the field. And he meets those conditions."
Topics: Liverpool, Arne Slot, Jamie Carragher, Premier League, Champions League
Jack Kenmare