Liverpool manager Arne Slot is in a tricky situation as pressure mounts on him after every matchday where even a sack doesn’t seem improbable. Liverpool drew Sunderland at home and find themselves at the 8th in the PL table defending the crown from last season. Things were too worse as Liverpool were trailing by one goal till 81st minute at home but Wirtz finally broke out of his shell providing a goal converting shot that deflected off Sunderland forward Nordi Mukiele into an own goal.
Liverpool enjoyed instant success after Arne Slot’s arrival, winning the Premier League, but things have not been smooth this season for the defending champions. They have just won 2 wins in the last 7 matchdays. The bigger picture impounding pressure on Slot is the net spend Liverpool did this Summer with a whopping £449m and the performances not reflecting it. Wirtz, Isak , Frimpong and Kerkez have not had any significant contributions since their arrivals with Wirtz under bigger scrutiny due to his price tag.
As much as the results would frustrate the fans, a new spiking incident shot up anger among Liverpool fans over Arne slot’s actions. Arne slot was seen having a friendly conversation with his former player Lutsharel Geertruida who is now a part of Sunderland.
Geertruida formerly played for Feyenoord from 2017 to 2024. Arne slot managed the Dutch team from July 2021 to July 2024 before his big move to Liverpool last summer. After a disappointing draw at home, fans expected Arne Slot to show character but his casual interaction with his former player was not well received by the fans.
They consider a draw at home is underperforming when compared to the standard which was cumulatively set by Klopp and the previous season run. When their manager is seen laughing with the opposition after a poor result, fans couldn’t accept the situation and demand a sacking at the heat of aggression.
The conversation between Geertruida and Slot doesn’t come with too much surprise. They both enjoyed commendable success in Feyenoord together reaching the Conference league finals in 2022, while they were champions of Eredivise in 2023. Also, interaction between managers and their former players is pretty common across the world of football.
Interestingly, this is not the first time Slot had a friendly conversation after game with one of his former player. When Real Madrid visited Anfield for their group stage game in UCL, Arne slot embraced a booed Trent Alexander Arnold, providing him consolation. He also said “every time I meet him, I will either give him a hug or talk to him because he has been very special to me as a player and a human being”. This emphasizes his affection towards his players regardless of the professional period in connection.
Arne Slot’s future enters the uncertain zone with no promise of progress and team losing the home backing game by game, but this act of professionalism is not something Arne slot would be agreeing with his fans for criticism.
