{"id":546815,"date":"2026-03-17T19:43:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T19:43:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/546815\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T19:43:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T19:43:16","slug":"slot-sack-only-solution-as-five-liverpool-players-condemned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/546815\/","title":{"rendered":"Slot sack only solution as five Liverpool players condemned"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liverpool fans are wondering how they have a team of tippy-tappy merchants so soon after winning the Premier League.<\/p>\n

Who will want the Liverpool job once Arne Slot is inevitably sacked?<\/a> Mail us at theeditor@football365.com<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Roy Keane is a bitter, twisted fool<\/p>\n

Roy Keane is surely a man with absolutely zero self-awareness. His continued attacks on Michael Carrick<\/a>, his grudging acknowledgements of what has been achieved, his previous attacks on Fernandes, his niggling comments about Ferguson \u2013 it all adds up to a bitter, twisted small-minded individual who simply can\u2019t get over the way his career ended at United.<\/p>\n

Why can\u2019t he see how ridiculous he is making himself look? He\u2019s alienating United fans who previously held him in high regard \u2013 now he just looks like a bitter loser. He was a great player and a truly dire manager. Ditto Gary Neville, and what has Scholes done since leaving United. Not one of them can point to a single managerial achievement of any note whatsoever, yet they are happy to sit in judgement, without the slightest acknowledgement that they had no ability whatsoever to do the jobs themselves.<\/p>\n

Reality check guys \u2013 you were all massive managerial failures.
ATG<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Max impact<\/p>\n

That Max Dowman. What. A. Player. He\u2019s gonna absolutely rip it up for Madrid.
RHT\/TS x<\/p>\n

(Spurs had a lucky escape being turned down by Slot before he went to This Means More FC)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2026Just seen the Max Dowman goal. Are we sure this kid is 16? I demand to see his birth certificate!<\/p>\n

If I was a 16 year-old (Year 11!) schoolboy prodigy footballer, for that youthful final flourish, I would not have simply slotted the ball into an empty net, but instead roll the ball towards the goal-line and swan-dive Klinnsmann-style on my belly to nut (or face-plant) the ball over the line to really milk the moment and rub Pickford\u2019s nose in it.<\/p>\n

That\u2019ll probably be why I never threatened to make it as a footballer, but I\u2019m not sure I could trust a 16 year-old who wouldn\u2019t do exactly that thing. I blame that joy-vampire Arteta..
Lee, mentally 16<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Stop watching Liverpool\u2026<\/p>\n

I laugh getting texts from my friends these past few weeks about Liverpool. The Premier League killed being a fan years ago so now the only point of watching is to be entertained. If you want to be fan, go support your local club in whatever country you\u2019re in. And if you\u2019re not entertained watching Liverpool, just stop watching and go for a walk or watch paint dry or something more fun than watching a billion dollars wasted.<\/p>\n

The most galling part is that this team doesn\u2019t have the legs to last 90 minutes anymore. So many late goals conceded due to defensive lapses down to tiredness. Mr. Klopp must not recognize his former players if he\u2019s bored enough to watch them. Just incredible to play at a walking pace and not being able to go the distance.<\/p>\n

I know we all say it, but I might really be done with the Premier League this time around because the juxtaposition between watching turgid sh*t on the field and reading about investments coming that could end hunger is just not healthy for the soul.<\/p>\n

Really, $150M for a 19 year old with 12 appearances and no goals but we have to get him now before Madrid come sniffing? The product is just so crap. If you hadn\u2019t killed what it means to truly be a fan, I might stick with you through the decline that\u2019s coming as you play games in empty stadiums with lots of sponsors like Saudi Arabia. Enjoy it because I sure won\u2019t.
Niall, Annapolis<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Firewirtz? More like gaslighting\u2026<\/p>\n

Let me start by saying, it was far from a bad performance by Florian Wirtz on Sunday against Spurs.<\/p>\n

Often, he looked technically superior to his peers on the pitch. His interpretation of space, little touches and flicks around the corner and appreciation of passing options around him were enough to raise an aesthetic smile if not an audible gasp.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t, however, be the only one who thinks that this talk of Wirtz \u201ccoming good,\u201d as Jamie Redknapp put it, is premature at best.<\/p>\n

There was a point, in the stodgiest part of the game, where Szboszolai put Wirtz in, who pirouetted and found Ngumoha across the other side of the box for a chance. Jamie Carragher purred in the commentary box, using that situation as further justification of Wirtz\u2019s ability to pick the best option and weight of pass. Although it wasn\u2019t the best weight of pass at all. It was slightly bobbled, slightly behind Ngumoha, to the point that he had to get in under control and back in front of him before he was able to have the shot. The perfect pass would have settled just in front of him, for him to come onto and hit first time, in a similar vein to his first goal against Newcastle.<\/p>\n

This instance was just one indication of Wirtz\u2019s performance on Sunday. So often he comes across as a player there to decorate a game, rather than grab it by the scruff of its neck (that\u2019s become Szoboszlai). He\u2019s good to watch, for sure. If you like football, you\u2019ll like watching Wirtz \u2013 for the aforementioned technical qualities and his grace on the ball. And yet, he\u2019s somehow the epitome of Liverpool\u2019s ponderous attack. So often under Klopp, attacks were conducted at blistering speed, with the right pass made with a thunderous intensity and conviction. Wirtz, by contrast, often takes the extra touch, the elegant turn, the propensity for a glamorous flick \u2013 and that extra beat allows defences to reset, slowing Liverpool\u2019s attack down. And in an era of, perhaps, unrivalled out of possession play \u2013 that extra beat is killing them.<\/p>\n

You\u2019d think the pundits would have noticed and remarked upon this, rather than constantly talking up Wirtz\u2019s qualities. Wirtz may yet become the player pundits insist he already is. But on Sunday, the praise felt less like analysis and more like wishful thinking.
Jenade Sharma, London<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

It all comes back to Arne Slot<\/p>\n

In the mailbox<\/a>, Gofezo calls out Szoboszlai for taking an interview when he felt Szoboszlai had essentially said he had no idea why Liverpool were letting in late goals. The assumption is that the player is putting his hand up to do the interview \u2013 and not that it might be requested by management or the broadcaster \u2013 especially after he scored another cracker.<\/p>\n

Plus, the player doesn\u2019t get to vet the (often stupid) questions beforehand. It is quite likely that he has some ideas, but he isn\u2019t going to throw teammates or the manager under the bus during an interview.<\/p>\n

Liverpool have been dreadful. Part of it was Jota, no doubt. But the continuation of that awful form is a mix of bedding in new players, players out of form, injuries, and the sale of Diaz. Diaz, along with Szoboszlai, was integral to the press, which kept opponents under pressure and minimized pressure on your own defence. With Szoboszlai held back at right back and Diaz at Bayern, the newbies, along with players not renowned for pressing like Gakpo and Salah, just aren\u2019t cutting it. This throws the whole balance off.<\/p>\n

So, Slot should take a lot of blame for this ongoing situation, as he has not been able to change Liverpool\u2019s fortunes for any extended period. Continuing to play Gakpo, who slows down every attack when he isn\u2019t running into a dead end, is disastrous. As a squad player, Gakpo had a role when Salah was on form and drawing most of the opponents\u2019 attention. He also had Diaz, who absorbed opponents on the left or through the middle, which left Gakpo space to glide in at the back post. However, on his own, he is a one-trick pony, and every opponent knows the trick. Block his run onto his right foot, and suddenly, he\u2019s completely useless.<\/p>\n

As soon as I see Gakpo in the lineup, I know it\u2019s going to be a tough game. And to think Slot gives Chiesa no minutes, even though he has been significantly better than Gakpo, benched Salah, had limited Ngumoha.<\/p>\n

I also saw a note from Kevin asking why Kerkez played better last year than this year. Well, also consider that Kerkez has to play on the same side as Gakpo. Granted Kerkez didn\u2019t help himself in his first few games, always trying way too hard (and should have been eased in, IMO) but Gakpo\u2019s play inhibits Kerkez\u2019s natural play.<\/p>\n

But Slot should have worked some of this out. Apart from Gakpo, continuing to use Szoboszlai at right-back when it is clear the team needs his energy in midfield is just getting downright silly now.<\/p>\n

In the end, there will come a point when the manager can\u2019t regain enough respect, and he will have to be replaced, as it is easier to replace one person than a lot of the team. Especially with several great candidates in the wings.<\/p>\n

The point is, the last person I would be getting on their back at Liverpool is Szoboszlai.
Paul McDevitt<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2026Gofezo and a few others took their shot at the players in the afternoon. In truth I think it\u2019s mostly Slot but maybe also some mishaps in the transfer market have been made.<\/p>\n

If you think about our previous midfields they\u2019ve been engine rooms where nobody could out work us. Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum and Fabinho would run you off the pitch. You literally had no chance of putting in a bigger shift than our midfield. Was it stodgy at times? Yes. But Jesus it didn\u2019t need to be much else because of Trent and the firepower ahead of it.<\/p>\n

Now our best midfield players are maybe Szoboslai, MacAllister, Gravenberch and Jones. Let\u2019s make no mistake these are all very tidy players; beautiful ball control, a lot of skill, vision and they can pass and shoot. But who brings the bite? Gravenberch definitely did last season and his awareness for danger was a real skill but it\u2019s been a bit absent this year. Was it because Trent always left the gap so it was easier to anticipate where teams would attack us? Now we are terrible in myriad ways and so he doesn\u2019t look like the second coming of Gattuso so much.<\/p>\n

I love Ekitike but he doesn\u2019t press like Firmino did and in truth even Nunez provided more off the ball defensive work than he does. It\u2019s the luxury a goalscorer enjoys but it\u2019s not a luxury a team can afford when we are terrible. If you\u2019ve got him through the centre and Mo on the right then basically a team can transition with almost zero pressure. No wonder we look so porous as players have plenty of time to look up and pick a pass when we lose it in those areas.<\/p>\n

Have we basically traded all our workhorses for a bunch of tippy tappy players who don\u2019t combine to make the sort of team with the combative presence needed to win games?
Minty, LFC<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Damning Liverpool<\/p>\n

The worst thing is that Spurs deserved it.
Aidan, Lfc (how we\u2019re 5th is an enigma wrapped in a mystery)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Favourites to go down?<\/p>\n

Well, as a Spurs fan, that game was an experience!<\/p>\n

Firstly, I\u2019ve changed my mind about Tudor. I think he\u2019s going to keep us up. The calamity on the disgraceful pitch at Athletico masked the fact that we showed periods where we looked better than we had in late-Frank era. Yesterday built on that, and we deserved a point, and.could have had three if only the goalkeepers were reversed.<\/p>\n

Mike of West Ham<\/a> thinks they are favourites to drop but I disagree: I\u2019d put the house on Forest sinking.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

One word: goals.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re scoring them, even when we\u2019ve lost. Richarlison is exactly the kind of man you want in situations like this, as Everton fans will attest.
Forest are desperately short of goals: we\u2019ve scored more than any in the bottom six.<\/p>\n

They don\u2019t have a Richarlison. And while our GA tally is far, far.too high, Forest\u2019s is higher.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re going to beat Forest and Wolves and we\u2019ll nick a few more points too.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll stay up. And then the inquest and rebuild can begin.
Sam<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chelsea got off lightly<\/p>\n

Chelsea\u2019s punishment for historical financial breaches may be a record \u00a310 million fine, but the reality is that the club have got off extremely lightly. In fact, the entire situation risks making a mockery of the Premier League\u2019s claim that its rules are applied consistently.<\/p>\n

Investigators found that between 2011 and 2018, during Roman Abramovich\u2019s ownership, more than \u00a347.5 million was paid through third-party entities to players, agents and others involved in transfers. Around \u00a323 million went to unregistered agents, linked to deals involving players such as Eden Hazard, David Luiz, Andr\u00e9 Sch\u00fcrrle and Nemanja Mati\u0107. None of these payments were properly disclosed to the authorities at the time, which is a clear breach of the league\u2019s requirement for clubs to act in good faith.<\/p>\n

Yet the punishment amounts to a fine and a transfer ban that has been suspended for two years. In practice that means Chelsea face no immediate sporting sanction at all.<\/p>\n

That is extraordinary when you consider that clubs like Everton and Nottingham Forest have been hit with points deductions for financial breaches in recent seasons. Other clubs have received transfer bans for far less serious regulatory violations. Chelsea, meanwhile, admitted to tens of millions in undisclosed payments across multiple transfers over several years \u2014 and walk away with what is essentially a financial penalty.<\/p>\n

It is difficult to escape the conclusion that Chelsea have got off lightly.<\/p>\n

The Premier League argues that the punishment reflects the club\u2019s cooperation and willingness to self-report the breaches after the new ownership took over. But if admitting wrongdoing simply results in a manageable fine and a suspended sanction, the deterrent effect looks minimal.<\/p>\n

And then there is the elephant in the room: Manchester City\u2019s 115 charges.<\/p>\n

Years after the investigation began, the case remains unresolved. The legal complexity is one explanation, but many observers suspect there is another factor at play \u2014 the uncomfortable geopolitical backdrop involving a club owned by Abu Dhabi and a league that must operate within the wider diplomatic relationship between the UK and the UAE.<\/p>\n

Whether that influence is real or perceived,( oh it\u2019s real) the optics are damaging. Smaller clubs have faced swift punishment for financial rule breaches, while the biggest and most politically sensitive case in the league\u2019s history drags on endlessly.<\/p>\n

For supporters, the message is becoming increasingly clear: the rules appear to exist, but the consequences depend on who breaks them.<\/p>\n

Chelsea\u2019s case only reinforces that perception. When tens of millions in undisclosed payments lead to little more than a fine and a suspended transfer ban, it inevitably raises the question of whether the Premier League\u2019s regulatory system has any real teeth at all.<\/p>\n

Right now, it doesn\u2019t look like strong governance. It looks like a system struggling to enforce its own rules.
Esco Pablabar, El Presidente De NoseBag FC <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

More questions than answers<\/p>\n

Why was Max Dowan not booked for going into the crowd?
Is a \u00a310mil fine and a (suspended!) transfer ban worth it for winning 7 trophies?
Are Man City laughing their head off anticipating what\u2019s coming?
Does Cody Gakpo have incriminating photos of Arne Slot?
Has he shared them with Alexis MacAllister and Mo Salah?
Is\/was Jordan Pickford ever a threat from a corner?
Was Casemiro \u201cdialing it in \u201d under Amorin?
Howard Jones<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Liverpool fans are wondering how they have a team of tippy-tappy merchants so soon after winning the Premier…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":546816,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[563],"tags":[64,63,596,85],"class_list":["post-546815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-football","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/546815","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=546815"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/546815\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/546816"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=546815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=546815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=546815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}