A resounding 6-0 victory over Qarabag was a moment of celebration for Liverpool and should have secured them a place in the Champions League play-offs in style.
In fact, the atmosphere at Anfield turned sour after manager Arne Slott gave his post-match interview. Many supporters interpreted it as a veiled jab at former manager Jurgen Klopp.
Despite the underwhelming scoreline, the story quickly shifted from the players’ performance to the coach’s mouth.
Slott, currently under pressure due to the domestic downturn, appears to be trying to defend his record by making unflattering comparisons with the club’s recent past.
Arne Slott looks set to attack Jurgen Klopp
Speaking to BainSport after the match, Slott emphasized his consistency in Europe but seemed to downplay the achievements of the previous government.
“It was very good because it was only two years ago that we played in the Europa League as a club and played against Atalanta in the quarter-finals,” Slott said, referring to Klopp’s difficult final season as manager.
“We’re in the last 16 for the second year in a row now. We want more. It’s nice to be back there, even if it’s a season where we’ve had some injuries and some players have struggled…”
That comment hit a nerve. While it is factually accurate that Liverpool will be expelled from the Europa League to Atalanta in 2024, fans are questioning the tone of the argument.
For many, citing the low point of Klopp’s walk-off tour to promote his own status felt unnecessary and unscrupulous, especially given Klopp’s legendary status at the club.
Slott’s recent comments are not going well with fans.
This latest incident is part of a growing pattern of friction between the Dutch and the Anfield faithful.
Patience was already wearing down after Slott controversially claimed last week that Liverpool had “only won the league twice in 30 years”.
Although this statement was an attempt to meet expectations, it was widely perceived as disrespecting the club’s status.
And ahead of the game against Qarabag, Slott suggested that his first Premier League title last season was due to a lighter schedule than their rivals, who lost to PSG in the round of 16 of the Champions League.
The comments prompted club legend Steven Gerrard to publicly dismiss the manager’s bizarre claims.
For a fan base that prides itself on respect for history and legend, Mr. Slott’s hands-on, largely disinterested analysis is coming across as increasingly dismissive.
A 6-0 win is usually the panacea, but if Slott continues to battle his club’s history he may find that even wins aren’t enough to keep the peace.
