THE message from the Liverpool hierarchy is that it is all a mirage. Fake news, as it were.
That the backlash against is merely a product of the social media warriors, not a true reflection of Anfield’s feelings.
Arne Slot should be sacked by Liverpool Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Fans have made their views on the Dutchman known Credit: Getty
And that the “real” fans are behind the manager and recognise how tough a situation he has been in.
But on Saturday, for the fourth time in the space of a few weeks, .
Not with delight but with sustained and unyielding disapproval. Jeers that could not be dismissed as a knee-jerk response to disappointment.
They have had enough. Not so much with the man, but with Slot the manager.
Had enough of turgid , the same patterns repeated to the extent they look and feel too ingrained to be excused under the Dutchman’s hand.
And enough of the same excuses by Slot as well. have not so much handed over their title as limply, painfully, surrendered it.
The maximum 65 points they can achieve this season would still be the worst return for defending champions since Leicester almost a decade ago.
And we all know what’s happened to the Foxes since then. Liverpool will not be playing in in 2036-37. That is pretty much a given.
Yet what irks so many Kopites is that this feels like a season of too many mistakes on and off the pitch — and that the roots actually go back 15 months or so.
Since last term’s penalty shoot-out defeat to , Liverpool have lost 23 out of their 66 games in all competitions. Woeful.
Slot’s fall-out with Mo Salah, culminating in the summer departure of the Egyptian 12 months after he put pen to paper on a new deal, is a symptom of the malaise that many fans fear is terminal.
The manager was not to blame for leaving for , although the full-back may now be reflecting on that old adage about the grass not always being greener elsewhere.
But he did not adequately replace him. And the impact on Salah has been severe. The Egyptian king had developed an instinctive understanding with the man behind him.
As soon as Salah saw the ball was heading towards Trent, he was on his bike, knowing the defender could hit a sixpence from 60 yards.
Salah got the ball early and was able to isolate his full-back, go outside and cross, or inside and shoot.
The result was the finest season of his career last term, 29 goals and 18 assists, the stand-out performer as Liverpool effectively had the title wrapped up by February half-term.
Liverpool were held to a draw by Chelsea Credit: Getty
The Reds have surrendered the Premier League title without much of a fight Credit: PA
This season, lacking that certainty, . As have Liverpool as a whole.
Whether it was entirely his decision or more that of sporting director Richard Hughes, Slot approved the huge summer outlay.
Yet no one could pretend spending £450m has improved Liverpool. The reverse is abundantly clear.
Arguably, of all the summer recruits, only — now seemingly out until deep into next season — has been even a qualified success.
Alexander Isak’s struggles were initially self-inflicted — his summer-long stand-off with meant that he arrived as in shape as a TV star at the gates of Celebrity Boot Camp.
Injury added more frustration. The Swede has to start paying back next term, whoever is in charge
looked ill-equipped to handle the physicality of the Prem in August. And nine months later, the German has flattered to deceive.
If the idea was to build a team that plays to his strengths, why hasn’t Slot done that? Wirtz is too peripheral.
Xabi Alonso is the fans’ pick to take charge at Anfield Credit: Getty
The Spaniard spent five years playing for the Reds during his career Credit: Getty
As for and , would anyone declare either an upgrade on Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson?
It adds up to disquiet, frustration and a mood of “time for a change”.
In 2014, amid a similar background, Liverpool stuck with , only to U-turn two months into the next campaign.
Boardroom faith in Slot, flying in the face of the resentful mood, is only likely to make the backlash deeper if it does not pay off.
And it risks missing out on , the manager the fans do want.
GRAPPLING WITH IT ALL
Corner kicks have become chaos zones Credit: PA
EVERYONE’S now grappling with “wrestle mania”. Everyone in the Premier League, that is.
In the rest of football, though, nobody has an issue with penalty- box moves. It doesn’t happen.
Which is why dealing with the problem remains so difficult for PGMOL referees.
Howard Webb cannot arbitrarily draft new laws that don’t exist elsewhere in the game. Ideas to tackle it include ex-World Cup lino Darren Cann’s suggestion attacking players cannot enter the six-yard box until the ball is kicked.
Or, my preferred option, of declaring the ball ‘live’ once it is placed down for a set-piece — meaning a foul can be called.
Yet these options do not have backing from lawmakers on the International FA Board at this stage, although that may change AFTER the World Cup.
The bigger issue for many is not that Darren England spotted Pablo’s arm across David Raya’s throat in injury time at the London Stadium on Sunday.
It was more that too many similar fouls — witness Arsenal’s winner at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the season — have not been penalised.
Inconsistency is far more irritating than one correct decision. And for all that PGMOL suggests otherwise, it just feels far too inconsistent.
JOSE SO MAD FOR MADRID
Jose Mourinho could start coaching Vinicius Jr at Real Madrid Credit: Reuters
JOSE MOURINHO heading back to the dumpster fire that is Real Madrid.
Brilliant.
Remember how it ended for the last time — with players leaking the team news five minutes after being warned that doing so would be a betrayal of the club.
Given what happened when Mourinho’s played Real a few months ago, he backed Argentine Gianluca Prestianni despite the winger’s abuse of Vinicius Junior, the next internal explosion looks a matter of time.
Nothing is more bonkers than pouring gasoline on a raging inferno.
Then again, who better to put in charge of an asylum than someone who can often resemble a lunatic.
DALE LATE TO PARTY
Rochdale sealed their return to the EFL Credit: Alamy
DIE by the added time goal, live by the added time goal.
Rochdale’s roller-coaster few weeks ended with a penalty shootout play-off triumph against Boreham Wood at Wembley to secure their return to the .
But only having levelled in the 97th minute, after they trailed 2-0 with 12 minutes left.
Then again, after 106-point Dale missed out on automatic promotion last month — due to last-gasp drama against National League champs York — it’s hard to begrudge them.
ELL OF A SEASON
Elliot Anderson has starred for Nottingham Forest this season Credit: Reuters
ELLIOT ANDERSON has played himself into the England team this summer.
And, surely, into a huge money move by next term.
It was only fitting that the , 23, got the goal that ensured Nottingham Forest’s Prem survival in the 1-1 draw with Toon.
Fitting, too, that his first thought after finding the net was a tribute to his mother who died the other week.
Decency seems his core attribute. He can play a bit, too.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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