Following a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals, the atmosphere at Liverpool has reached a toxic breaking point, with footage circulating online of traveling supporters singing the famous Xabi Alonso chant leaving the Etihad Stadium.
The loss was a staggering 15th of the season for coach Arne Slott, but it appeared to be the last straw for a fan base that had grown increasingly disillusioned since the start of the year.
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Liverpool supporters send clear message to club hierarchy
As goals poured in from an onslaught of City sides, the away side began to empty out well before the final whistle.
Footage shows traveling fans sending indirect messages to Liverpool bosses and belting out the famous Xabi Alonso chant before leaving the stadium.
Alonso has been strongly linked with a dream return to Anfield after his success with Bayer Leverkusen.
With Liverpool’s title defense in tatters and their chances of winning a domestic trophy gone, fans are no longer hiding their frustration.
The vocal support for Alonso and calls from fans for Slott to be sacked suggest that the grace period granted to Slott following his success in the Premier League last season has officially ended.
There is a deep disconnect between the club and its fans.
The scenes at the Etihad highlight a worrying disconnect that is beginning to show cracks in the fabric of the club.
The results, as well as the actions of the players and the reaction of the supporters, indicate a growing internal crisis.
Shoboshura quarrel: At full time Dominik Szoboszlai was involved in a violent conflict with a fan. The midfielder appeared to shrug his shoulders and wave his arms disdainfully at the away team, demanding that teammate Federico Chiesa physically remove him.
Early termination:Many fans chose to leave the game with 20 minutes remaining, an almost unprecedented sight for a club whose values are “Never Walk Alone.”
Management uncertainty: Slot faces a revolt as Wednesday’s crucial Champions League match against PSG looms.
Many believe that the players have stopped playing for the manager due to their lackluster performance against City.
For Liverpool, the ‘defining month’ of April started in devastating fashion. If the board does not take immediate action to bridge the gap between the dugout and the Kop, we could witness an unprecedented collapse in the final weeks of the season.
