A convincing 6-0 victory over Qarabag was a second of celebration for Liverpool and will have secured them a spot within the Champions League play-offs in type.
In reality, the environment at Anfield turned bitter after supervisor Arne Slott gave his post-match interview. Many supporters interpreted it as a veiled jab at former supervisor Jurgen Klopp.
Regardless of the underwhelming scoreline, the story rapidly shifted from the gamers’ efficiency to the coach’s mouth.
Slott, presently beneath stress as a result of home downturn, seems to be making an attempt to defend his report by making unflattering comparisons with the membership’s latest previous.
Arne Slott seems set to assault Jurgen Klopp
Talking to BainSport after the match, Slott emphasised his consistency in Europe however appeared to downplay the achievements of the earlier authorities.
“It was superb as a result of it was solely two years in the past that we performed within the Europa League as a membership and performed towards Atalanta within the quarter-finals,” Slott stated, referring to Klopp’s tough closing season as supervisor.
“We’re within the final 16 for the second yr in a row now. We wish extra. It is good to be again there, even when it is a season the place we have had some accidents and a few gamers have struggled…”
That remark hit a nerve. Whereas it’s factually correct that Liverpool will probably be expelled from the Europa League to Atalanta in 2024, followers are questioning the tone of the argument.
For a lot of, citing the low level of Klopp’s walk-off tour to advertise his personal standing felt pointless and unscrupulous, particularly given Klopp’s legendary standing on the membership.
Slott’s latest feedback aren’t going properly with followers.
This newest incident is a part of a rising sample of friction between the Dutch and the Anfield trustworthy.
Persistence was already sporting down after Slott controversially claimed final week that Liverpool had “solely received the league twice in 30 years”.
Though this assertion was an try to fulfill expectations, it was extensively perceived as disrespecting the membership’s standing.
And forward of the sport towards Qarabag, Slott advised that his first Premier League title final season was as a consequence of a lighter schedule than their rivals, who misplaced to PSG within the spherical of 16 of the Champions League.
The feedback prompted membership legend Steven Gerrard to publicly dismiss the supervisor’s weird claims.
For a fan base that prides itself on respect for historical past and legend, Mr. Slott’s hands-on, largely disinterested evaluation is coming throughout as more and more dismissive.
A 6-0 win is often the panacea, but when Slott continues to battle his membership’s historical past he could discover that even wins aren’t sufficient to maintain the peace.
