DESPERATE Arne Slot has just crossed a line

I’ll admit I had to double-check when the quote first appeared.

I assumed it was sent from Anfield Papers or a similar X account. It was the kind of quote that couldn’t have been any more perfectly designed to trigger rage among the fanbase.

But it supposedly came from Liverpool head coach Arne Slot?

“We are happy that we are going straight away to the last 16, especially because it's only two years ago that we were playing Europa League and we went out in the quarter-finals against Atalanta.”

Good one. No way he said that.

Account after account then began to post the same quote - straight from the horse’s mouth.

Was it true?

It even appears on the club’s transcript of the press conference following the Reds’ easy 6-0 Champions League win against Qarabag at Anfield.

Excuse me, what?

Arne Slot comes after Klopp's record

The reason I assumed it was bogus is that Slot had caused all manner of outrage just one day before with his comments to the media.

Liverpool only won the Premier League because they’d been eliminated from the Champions League by Paris Saint–Germain.

And he again twisted the knife about the 20-time English champions’ trophy record - repeating the old trope about winning the top flight twice in 30 years.

It was just too much that he would come out with something like this - barely 24 hours later.

Just what’s his game here?

I get it. The Dutchman probably feels he doesn’t deserve the kind of scrutiny - and pressure - he’s getting from the fans and the media these days.

He led Liverpool to the title in his first season in charge only a few months ago - and it’s understandable that he’d like the criticism to quieten down.

These barbs then are maybe to serve a reminder of where Liverpool were when he came in - and to demonstrate that he is ready to stand up for himself when it comes to his own personal achievements.

Fair play, you are entitled to think that Arne.

But it doesn’t work like that.

Criticising Klopp's last season was WRONG

Ask Claudio Ranieri or Jose Mourinho for that matter - not only panned in the season after they won the league but actually sacked. Expectations are set high after a title win and Liverpool aren’t meeting theirs.

The squad was improved last summer with £450m worth of signings. The British transfer record was smashed - TWICE. And yet Slot cannot get a tune out of his squad.

Anfield feels flat, the football is stale and there is little to no prospect of the team matching their output from last term.

Slot STILL harps on about the “low block” as if teams should turn up and let Liverpool play through them.

This season has been a failure - although in fairness to the 47-year-old he could rescue his reputation with a Champions League or cup win.

But to come after Jurgen Klopp was completely out of pocket.

The season before Slot arrived Liverpool were dealing with the consequence of a very bad campaign - one which saw them play in the Europa League for the first time in a full season under his leadership.

They put up a good fight but ultimately lost to eventual winners Atalanta - no disgrace but given the talent at their disposal they probably should have won the competition outright.

However it was totally wrong for Slot to alight on the worst European outcome Liverpool had under Klopp.

Liverpool were in great shape when Slot arrived

Do not for a second, Arne, try to claim that Klopp left you some kind of sh*tshow.

The squad was in good shape; you nor Richard Hughes did not have to add one player to it in order to claim the title. The one player you did bring in - Federico Chiesa - contributed practically nothing.

Why not mention the custodianship of the club in the decade before you arrived?

You know, a team that consistently went toe-to-toe with Manchester City on a fraction of the budget? The one that posted record Premier League points totals just a few campaigns before you arrived? The only team to break Pep’s stranglehold on the league title?

The club that reached THREE Champions League finals in FIVE years - winning one? The team that picked up FA Cup and EFL Cup honours as well as the FIFA Club World Cup?

Why not mention all of that?

Why use the Europa League season as your benchmark - when your best and only Champions League achievement at Liverpool - with all due respect - matches Jurgen Klopp’s worst?

So let’ not get too cocky Arne.

You’re upset and feeling disrespected. But trampling on Klopp in order to talk yourself up is not the way to go about it. The best thing to do is to work out a formula to get the best out of the team on the pitch - and to let your football do the talking.

Because right now you are in danger of alienating the fans. They will always pull behind the team - and the manager - but you best not attack the history of the club or the man who preceded you.

Remember that Klopp ushered in your era on his final day at Anfield - asking the supporters inside the ground to sing your name and make you feel welcome from day one.

Don’t lose sight of that - how the team and the supporters were put at your disposal. And most importantly - stop talking down Liverpool.

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