Liverpool acknowledge the need for an immediate improvement in results but remain committed to Arne Slot despite a sharp dip in form. After a sequence of early wins sparked by late goals, the club have lost five of their last six matches, including four consecutive Premier League defeats.

Reports of unrest and speculation about Slot’s position have circulated, yet Fabrizio Romano states Liverpool’s faith in the Dutch boss remains unwavering and there are no plans to even consider making a change in the dugout. Club officials are said to be “100% convinced” that Slot is the right manager to guide the side forward.

Inside Liverpool there is an acceptance that alterations to the squad have affected fluidity and cohesion on the pitch, and that those adjustments are a significant factor in the slump. The squad is understood to still support the manager and are prepared to give him time to find solutions.

The club view the recent defeats as primarily tactical problems: opponents have taken approaches Liverpool have struggled to counter. The list of recent losses includes Crystal Palace, Galatasaray, Chelsea, Manchester United and Brentford. That sequence has prompted debate about the team’s physical profile and set-piece vulnerability.

Jamie Carragher, who recently argued the Reds were approaching a “crisis”, attributed part of the problem to a lack of physicality, saying the side have failed to deal with long throws and set pieces.

The immediate priority for Slot and his staff is to adjust tactics or personnel to address those shortcomings and restore cohesion. There is hope within the club that such changes will halt the run of poor results.

Slot’s next opportunity to stem the pressure arrives on Wednesday, when Liverpool face Crystal Palace in a Carabao Cup fourth-round tie. Palace were the first side to beat Liverpool in this recent sequence and also prevailed in the Community Shield earlier in the season.

Manchester United remain uncertain about Jadon Sancho’s next step after his loan spell at Aston Villa has produced limited minutes and little market momentum. United had hoped the loan would mirror Marcus Rashford’s six-month spell at Villa Park in the second half of the 2024–25 campaign, but that scenario has yet to unfold.

Sancho has made just five appearances for Villa so far and was substituted after being introduced from the bench in Sunday’s 1–0 victory over Manchester City. The Manchester Evening News report United have not agreed a plan for Sancho’s next move.

The 25-year-old’s contract at Old Trafford runs until next summer, with United holding the option to extend for a further 12 months. Letting the deal expire would mean United accepting a total loss on the £73 million they paid in 2021. Extending the contract would preserve the possibility of a fee in a sale but would carry the risk of another 12 months of his substantial wages if an acceptable offer does not arrive.

United see no long-term future for Sancho at the club and are hoping a successful loan at Villa Park will sustain some value and attract interest next summer. Any decision on the contract extension is expected later in the season, once Sancho has had more time to demonstrate his form at Villa.

Sancho’s start at Villa has been slow. He played just eight minutes across his first three Premier League games before illness sidelined him. He returned to start in the midweek Europa League defeat to Go Ahead Eagles, his second start for the club, but drew attention when he was substituted on and then off in the same match against his former employers.

Emery addressed the episode and acknowledged the player’s feelings while underlining fitness concerns. “Yes, sure [Sancho] is not happy, but I did it before with Morgan Rogers, with Emiliano Buendia, with Leon Bailey, and he played 60 minutes on Thursday,” Emery explained. “When [Buendia] was injured, my plan was maybe in case [Sancho] was going to play 30 minutes, but I decided to play more and he played 45 minutes.

“But my plan was when he was swapped with Emiliano Buendia, the idea was maybe not playing all the minutes until the last moment. And I told him as well, he can feel it, it’s embarrassing.

“Before Morgan, Emiliano Buendia and Leon Bailey, they felt the same when I subbed them, but it was not a punishment. And now it’s not a punishment.

“He played 45 minutes, I am so happy because his impact was good, his electricity, his skill, but then to play more than now… he’s not ready, fit, to play 90 minutes, 45 minutes is not easy enough for him and I am happy and of course, progressively he’s coming better and better.”

Adam Wharton has emerged at Crystal Palace as a left-footed midfield presence who could command significant interest next summer. Palace paid around £20 million ($26.6 million) for the 21-year-old, and his ball-carrying and passing profile make him a natural target for clubs seeking a deep-lying connector. He has been described as a “continental” midfielder by some and Gen Z’s answer to Michael Carrick.

Tottenham Hotspur — Likelihood rating: 4/10
Spurs were linked faintly last summer and appear to have watched Wharton during his Blackburn days. Whether Thomas Frank’s side push for him will depend on their fortunes in Frank’s first season in charge. Supporters are crying out for his kind of passing ability, but Palace’s asking price and competition make Spurs outsiders.

Manchester City — Likelihood rating: 6/10
Rodri’s fitness issues after his ACL tear in September 2024 have opened the door to long-term planning. Nico González and Mateo Kovačić provide depth, but uncertainty over Rodri’s return and Kovačić’s contract situation leave room for reinforcement. Pep Guardiola called Wharton an “excellent holding midfielder” before the 2025 FA Cup final, and the profile fits the kind of Spanish controller City might target.

Chelsea — Likelihood rating: 6.5/10
Chelsea’s recruitment appetite is well documented and Wharton has reportedly been added to the club’s “transfer shortlist” for 2026. With Moisés Caicedo, Enzo Fernández and Roméo Lavia in the squad, Wharton would be a complementary option who can resist pressure and play incisive passes from the pivot.

Real Madrid — Likelihood rating: 7/10
Madrid are expected to rebuild their midfield after consecutive departures of elite midfielders. Wharton is perhaps too direct to be a regista, but his technical gifts could suit Spain. The suggestion that he could make that step follows examples like Michael Olise’s move from Palace.

Manchester United — Likelihood rating: 8/10
United demonstrated their pull in the summer and are reportedly considering Wharton alongside Carlos Baleba. His front-foot defending and adaptability to a 3-4-2-1 at Palace suggest he would fit Ruben Amorim’s midfield plans.