Jamie Carragher has accused Liverpool fans of ‘disrespecting’ Arne Slot with criticism on social media, while claiming that ‘any manager’ would struggle to find success with the Reds’ current squad.
Having led the club to Premier League glory in his maiden season at Anfield, Slot’s second has been far from plain-sailing.
His side have lost more league games (six) already this season than in the entirety of their last campaign (four) and find themselves some 14 points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Their latest underwhelming performance came on the weekend against relegation candidates Burnley, who held Slot’s side to a 1-1 draw thanks to an equaliser from Marcus Edwards. Afterwards, supporters vented their frustrations at the manager once again.
But ex-Liverpool defender Carragher has been ‘taken aback’ by the level of criticism aimed at the Dutchman, revealing on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet, that the title-winning manager deserves more time.
He said: ‘I want to tell you where I stand on the manager. I am starting to get a little wound up. I know social media is something you shouldn’t always use as a barometer of what every football fan thinks, but I feel there is a real disrespect towards Slot, considering what he’s done for the club.
‘I know it’s not been a great season but I’m almost a little taken aback by some of it on there. Fans don’t always have to agree so you think they will be sensible, but I don’t like it.
‘I think six months after winning a league title, I think it’s a little disrespectful, almost like they think he hasn’t got a clue what he’s doing.’
The Reds’ 3-0 victory at Marseille on Tuesday, thanks to strikes from Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and an own-goal, was much-needed and one which left them highly likely to secure a top-eight Champions League finish.
However Slot’s style of play has been a source of gripe for Liverpool fans, who had become accustomed to Jurgen Klopp’s chaotic and more attacking tactics.
Carragher continued: ‘I have a bit of sympathy for him (Slot). The makeup of Liverpool’s squad is not right. There is actually no backup for (Mo) Salah and (Cody) Gakpo, really.
‘Salah is 33 years old and we look at Gakpo and say, “he’s not quite good enough”. The makeup of that squad, any manager would find it tough. I know there will be people here saying he spent £450m and I get that, but that shows for me it is more of a collective and (he has the trust of) the people above him.
‘The players last season are not playing at the same level this season. And we are actually at a stage now where over the last sort of four to six weeks, the best players at Liverpool have been the new signings.
‘Has Arne Slot had a good season? No, but I get a bit frustrated when, say, you’re at a game or you’re going to the pub – it almost feels like a little bit of entitlement to me.
‘We had it so good with Klopp in terms of winning everything but you would say Klopp’s football was the most exciting to watch anywhere in the world. And he was amazing, of course he was.’
Liverpool are gearing up for a Premier League clash with Bournemouth on Saturday evening before they round off their Champions League group stage campaign against Qarabag next week.
