A crucial 6-0 win over Qarabag should have been a moment of joy for Liverpool, ensuring they progressed to the Champions League play-offs in style.
Instead, the situation at Anfield has turned dangerous after manager Arne Slot gave a post-match interview that many fans interpreted as a veiled jab at his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp.
Despite the highlights, the narrative quickly shifted from the players’ performance to the manager’s mouth.
Slot, currently under pressure due to a sluggish domestic campaign, looks set to defend his record against the latest club.
Arne Slot appears to be taking a jab at Jurgen Klopp
Speaking to BeinSports after the match, Slot appeared to downplay the previous regime’s achievements while highlighting his European consensus.
“It’s great because it was only two years ago that we as a club played in the Europa League and got out of the quarter-finals against Atalanta,” said Slot, referring to Klopp’s difficult last season in charge.
“Now it’s two years in a row, the last 16 and we’re hungry for another good one to be there again, even in a season where we’re struggling with a few injured players…”
?? “We are hungry for more… We still have a lot to play for to make this season special.”
Arne Slot speaks @AndyKerrtv after Liverpool’s 6-0 win over Qarabag!#beINUCL #LFC #UCL pic.twitter.com/lenYQJAs5R
– beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) January 28, 2026
Interesting comment. Although it is accurate, Liverpool left the Europa League to Atalanta in 2024, the fans had an argument about the tone.
For many, citing the lowest point in Klopp’s farewell tour to boost his standing felt unnecessary and unkind, especially given Klopp’s legendary status at the club.
Slot’s recent comments haven’t gone down well with fans
The latest incident is part of a growing pattern of tension between the Dutchman and the Anfield faithful.
Patience was wearing thin following Slot’s controversial claim last week that Liverpool had “only won the league twice in 30 years.”
Although intended to manage expectations, the speech was widely viewed as undermining the team’s reputation.
And before the Qarabag match, Slot suggested that their first Premier League title win last season was due to their defeat by PSG in the Champions League Round of 16, which gave them an easier schedule than their rivals.
Arne Slot says maybe the reason Liverpool won the league last season is because they had to face PSG in the UCL and they got knocked out? pic.twitter.com/usnhRnhK66
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) January 27, 2026
The comments even prompted club spokesman Steven Gerrard to publicly dismiss the manager’s outlandish claim.
For fans who pride themselves on history and respect its legends, Slot’s pragmatic, almost detached analysis is increasingly being read as disrespectful.
A 6-0 win is usually the answer, but if Slot continues to wrestle with his team’s history, he may find that even a win isn’t enough to keep the peace.
