31 Oct 2025 08:00:39
I posted a few days ago that the 6 homes games we had upcoming (starting with Palace) was a really good opportunity to put a run together and get the fans back on side. Slot has completely failed to read the room.
What an absolute disgrace to the club that squad selection was. The only senior attacking player in the whole squad was Chiesa. Fans deserve to see a team at least trying to score a goal, or for there to be some honesty before the game that you intend to pull the entire first team out of the match day squad. That was so disrespectful to the paying fans.
Klopp used to rotate a lot in domestic cups, but he'd always have the big guns on the bench just in case, and he'd always put at least 2 or 3 senior attackers on the pitch (the likes Sturridge, Ox, Minamino, Origi, Shaqiri etc) . In the one game we wrote off under Klopp (Villa in the League Cup) there was a mitigating circumstance that we had to play in the Club World Cup 4000 miles away 22 hours apart, so Klopp made it abundantly clear it would be the u21 team playing.
The last manager to deliberately throw a game with no reasonable excuse was Rodgers vs Real Madrid. That was the beginning of the end for him.
To say I am seething is an understatement. I've waited a couple of days to ensure I wasn't just angry and over reacting, but every day I wake up feeling exactly the same. That is the most embarrassed I've been of my club in over a decade. To basically park the bus at Anfield with no attacking outlets other than Chiesa is bordering on unforgiveable. Every fan who paid to be in that stadium should be refunded.
Slot was asked after the game what the thinking behind the team was and he said he needed to rest the first team for the tough schedule. He was then asked if Villa is now a must win to which he replied "every game for Liverpool is a must win". Are you serious pal? You can't say that 30 minutes after you deliberately threw a game to save your first team a bit of mileage. Absolute disgrace. His interviews this season are a painful watch and the excuses are getting ridiculous.
I'm sure the handful of super fans on here will come after me for this post, but I really don't care. I feel this needed to be said.
31 Oct 2025 08:30:12
I 100% agree with you Adam.
31 Oct 2025 08:30:47
This is exactly what I thought when I read the team sheet, particularly the bench. He not only threw the game, he also threw a load of those youngsters under the bus in my opinion. I hate the fact I’m feeling this way too, I’m also positive, never like to be one of those ‘you’re sacked in the morning’ types, but it’s not just the performances, as you say, it’s also the weird excuses, the blaming of other teams tactics, and the seemingly stubborn refusal to try and change things that has me thinking this way.
Villa is most definitely a ‘must win’, but so is Madrid and city, and I just can’t see it.
31 Oct 2025 08:31:31
If we lose it could be along the lines of Aston Villa had a rest in a luxury spa and my players didn't. He's that far down the list of excuses he's running out of them. I really hope we get a win.
31 Oct 2025 08:44:02
He has only put a lot more pressure on himself. If he fails against Villa it will be 7 of the last 8 that are losses, and from there on the pressure will only increase exponentially and what are the odds of us winning against RM or City?
What is deemed acceptable? will it be dependent on results or performances? Right now both are unacceptable.
Is it unfair to only give him 3 games more to turn this around? If an interim manager came in, then it would be convenient for him to start after the city match (international break), and start against a "weaker" side.
31 Oct 2025 08:49:39
I can't cite each occasion precisely, but Klopp also bowed meekly out of the cups several times, it's just that we didn't complain about it because we weren't in this much of a rut outside of those cup competitions (or maybe we were in the two seasons that we were really struggling? ) . I have vivid memories of Klopp repeatedly being accused of not respecting the league cup and the FA cup, just not necessarily from our own fans.
Sure he had the likes of Sturridge, Shaqiri and Origi starting, we don't have a similar situation, would you have risked playing Ekitike and having him get sent off again or getting a minor knock that keeps him out of the weekend game, in which case we would have to start Isak fresh from the recovery room (which would mean he'd probably get a muscle strain of his own 60 mins into the game)? If Frimpong wasn't injured, he would definitely have started on the right wing instead of Morrison, if Isak had been fit for the game you don't think he would have come on in the second half to get some minutes on the way to recovery?
It saddens me quite a bit that anybody who still backs Slot to whatever degree to turn things around is being branded a 'super fan' and what we get day in and day out on here is angry diatribe calling him useless, clueless, a disgrace, that he won the title because of luck, Heitinga and Klopp, has he really lost the plot to such an extent that the fans can turn on him so quickly? I can't identify with this kind of sentiment, I am proud that we have a generally intelligent, (com) passionate, patient and tactically literate fanbase, which is why my sense that folks (not lumping you in here, MK) repeating the talking points spouted by rage-baiting pundits kind of hurts me more than us losing games.
It does make me not want to come on here and express this sadness because probably all I'll receive is mockery or people saying I"m acting holier than thou or like I'm better than those calling for Slot's head, and that they have nothing but perfectly justified indignation etc.
31 Oct 2025 08:53:18
I don't think there will be too many on here disagreeing with you, MK. You should've been on the chat the other night, to get an idea of that. I was ranting before we even kicked off. Where I am in the minority, is I'm not calling for him to be sacked. We obviously can't carry on with our dire performances and results, but I think Slot needs to be given time to get us out of this mess and I'm sure he'll be given that time. I wasn't there on Wednesday, but I'll be there tomorrow to gauge for myself what the sense of feeling is. Rarely do we express negative noises towards our managers, at games. The only one I can think of is Hodgson, who was never wanted. Will never forget losing to a rubbish Wolves side, on a filthy winter's night, listening to "Hodgson for England. " I can't even remember Souness getting stick, despite what he did with the S*n.
Despite being a miserable old git, I remain optimistic. I can't wait to get there tomorrow, to play my tiny part in trying to get a tune out of our players. We are Liverpool. This means more.
31 Oct 2025 08:57:11
No need to patronisingly call posters who disagree with you 'Super Fans", MKScouser. We are all entitled to our opinions without being being called names.
31 Oct 2025 09:17:48
The thing is PB for people to believe that change can happen there needs to be some indication. Nothing has changed on the pitch and the press conferences are getting worse and worse.
If there are some positive signs against Villa I'm sure many will start believing again (I hope at least) .
31 Oct 2025 09:23:49
DreamofGin and PB, with "Super Fans" I'm obviously referring to the types of people who call anyone who criticises the tactics names. Not all people who still back Slot. I've not called for Slot to be sacked. Although I admit, I am very close to that point.
If that is not you, then you're not who I'm referring to when I say "Super Fans". I don't care if people disagree with me. It only bothers me when people imply you are a bad supporter for calling out issues honestly and bluntly. Neither of you have done that here, so the shoe obviously doesn't fit.
31 Oct 2025 09:51:47
Not you too MK? You even used the term ‘super fans’ your journey to the dark side is complete.
I’ll miss you mate.
31 Oct 2025 10:21:17
Couldn’t agree more with every word written. I’m not even mad anymore personally. Just (un) patiently waiting for the nightmare to be over. One way or the other.
31 Oct 2025 10:42:35
It might be unpopular and very unsporting, but I back this particular decision by Arne Slot. And given the draw for the quarter finals, a trip to Emirates in busy December was needed like a hole in the head.
I agree with PB, Klopp sent out teams with 10-11 changes for the early rounds of the cups too.
As it stands, our defensive cover if we get one more injury is Gomez and Robbo. Bradley breaks down often, and Konate has a history of injuries.
And our midfield cover is a terribly out of form MacAllister, an unfavoured Endo and talented but wispy Trey Nyoni.
Isak is clearly not fit yet and Hugo has no history of playing two games a week. Cody is our only left winger - assuming Slot will continue to limit Rio's game time.
I think the medical team that did so well last season with injuries probably deserves a little credit and trust when they say certain players cannot play two games in a week. They might be proven wrong one day but I think last season's success with managing the squad health affords them some rope.
So, if they felt that the current squad health and upcoming big games warrants fielding that lineup on Wednesday, I support that decision.
With all that said, Slot needs to shift the narrative from what the opposition do and have us impose our game on the opposition. He deserves criticism for failing to do that so far. No player seems to be excelling in the current setup, which is damning.
If there is no sign of recovery in the next 3 games, I am probably in the same boat as you, MK.
31 Oct 2025 14:03:29
What it comes down to is that you have to take a side on here; not with everyone, obviously.
If I question someone calling Slot a 'clueless human being' it doesn't necessarily follow that I think he's above criticism.
If I challenge someone saying we are a 'disgrace', 'a laughing stock' or 'a joke' that doesn't mean I'm happy with how we are playing.
I'm frustrated, disappointed, pessimistic etc with the situation but I'm not angry, seething and demanding that 'heads roll'.
I'm also fairly secure about my team and don't mind folk questioning my views and standpoints.
Others do take issue and will attack the challenger instead of the challenge.
Maybe it's my age being one of the more senior posters and having witnessed loads of our successes.
I had a few pints with a couple of United fans (among others) last night and I knew the banter was coming but you just have to take it. I've been giving it for months but it's all good natured.
My team does affect my mood but I try to keep a lid on it.
Good or bad.
31 Oct 2025 14:14:27
We have had a bad patch happens to the best and you want to throw Arne under the bus?
31 Oct 2025 14:28:55
We don't agree on all things politics, Rigsby, but we nearly always do when it comes to Liverpool. Good post, mate.
31 Oct 2025 15:09:55
Thanks, Rome.
I don't think we'd differ that much politically, mate.
I know there was the discussion on the other section and it's almost impossible to agree with someone about everything.
31 Oct 2025 16:11:00
Pretty much how I feel about it to a tee, rigsby, cheers.
31 Oct 2025 16:48:44
I don’t care too much about the domestic cups, and if we’re not playing I don’t watch either the FA or league cup semis or finals. In the past I used to but have lost interest.
We haven’t prioritised either in recent years but have scraped through the rounds previously with a combination of luck and heroics from young or squad players. The exception I can think of in the qualifying rounds was against Tottenham when we played a strong line up. We rarely play full strength but admittedly have more on the bench usually.
What is more of an issue is expecting fans to pay full price to watch those games, but also not seeing the benefits of resting players in subsequent performances. That’s been the case this season particularly.