'Next season will be different... I'm not sure I believe him'published at 13:06 BST 12 May
13:06 BST 12 May
Jordan Chamberlain Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
I would support Arne Slot more if he weren't so sarcastic in his interviews. He refuses to take any blame for the season.
Whereas Jurgen Klopp always shouldered responsibility for defeats or poor performances, Slot blames everyone else but himself. He blames referees, pretends to the fans that the team has dominated games, or levels thinly veiled criticisms at his players. I'm growing tired of it. For a man who won the Premier League last season, there is a startling emotional disconnect with the fans.
Liverpool fans are incredibly emotional. We expect to see it from our manager and players, too. But nobody seems to care. They are absolutely just going through the motions until the summer. Slot has promised another big summer and that next season will be different. I'm not sure I believe him. And when we're going to lose Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson - and potentially Alisson too - how can we improve?
Like most Liverpool fans, I've just had enough of this season. It's been so, so boring. Liverpool have been uninspiring. It's a huge comedown from the title win and we all just need a break from it.
I really hope someone speaks to Slot about the self-pity and the moaning in his news conferences before next term.
Elliott still a wanted man as Liverpool return loomspublished at 11:06 BST 12 May
11:06 BST 12 May
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Harvey Elliott is attracting Premier League and European interest but is still expected back at Liverpool for the start of pre-season.
The 23-year-old has endured a nightmare season on loan at Aston Villa from Anfield, making just nine appearances in all competitions.
Yet Elliott - who won Player of the Tournament as England Under-21s won Euro 2025 last summer - is still wanted by a number of clubs in England and abroad.
He is unlikely to have a future at Liverpool if Arne Slot is in charge next season but the playmaker is due to report for pre-season training at Axa Training Centre in the summer.
Elliott joined Villa on loan on deadline day last year with Villa holding an obligation to buy in a deal worth £35m if he made 10 Premier League appearances.
Elliott has made just four - starting once - with boss Unai Emery saying he decided in November not to make the move permanent.
Villa and Liverpool held talks about ending the loan in January but were unable to reach an agreement. The teams play each other in the Premier League at Villa Park on Friday, with Elliott ineligible to face his parent club.
Elliott, popular within the Villa squad and at the club's Bodymoor training ground, has earned praise for the mature way he has handled the situation this season but sources have underlined it has been a wasted year which has set his career back.
He joined hoping to force his way into Thomas Tuchel's World Cup plans but has seen Under-21 team-mate Elliot Anderson earn six games to become a regular under Tuchel.
He was an unused substitute in Thursday's 4-0 Europa League semi-final win over Nottingham Forest which booked Villa a final berth against Freiburg.
Emery made seven changes to face Tottenham in the Premier League ahead of the semi-final second leg earlier this month with Elliott left out entirely.
'The lift that the club needed' - looking back at 1985-86published at 07:37 BST 12 May
07:37 BST 12 May
Image source, Getty Images
Liverpool legends Gary Gillespie and Sammy Lee have been reminiscing on the famous Double-winning 1985-86 season before an anniversary event marking 40 years since the triumph.
It was the first season Kenny Dalglish had led the team as player-manager following the Heysel disaster and Joe Fagan's retirement. However, despite the uncertainty, the Reds went on to achieve only the fifth Double in English football history.
"It was the lift the club needed after Heysel because everyone was on a down,' Lee told Paul Salt of BBC Radio Merseyside's Total Sport. "Joe decided enough was enough.
"We weren't too sure what was going to happen and were all still in a state of shock. To have someone like Kenny come in and lead us and do what he did after that was nothing short of exceptional.
"Because of what happened previously we wanted to make it work.
"We realised the club and English football was in such a sorry state so we needed to make it happen. That dressing room, alongside all the people Kenny had working with him, was going to make sure it was a success.
"Although we had a difficult start, it wasn't going to hinder our progress and it certainly didn't."
Gillespie added: "Kenny distanced himself a little bit from the players but still had a laugh and a joke.
"The dressing room was excellent with senior players and great characters throughout to look after everything going on."
Gossip: Liverpool consider Bowen and Akliouche as winger optionspublished at 06:45 BST 12 May
06:45 BST 12 May
Three Premier League clubs - Liverpool, Newcastle, and Everton - are targeting 29-year-old England forward Jarrod Bowen, even if West Ham avoid relegation. (Mail), external
The Reds are also interested in Monaco's 24-year-old right winger Maghnes Akliouche, with the France international valued at about 50m euros (£43m). His team-mate Lamine Camara is also on Liverpool's radar, but they may face competition from Newcastle for the 22-year-old Senegal midfielder. (L'Equipe, in French – subscription required), external
Sporting and Portugal midfielder Francisco Trincao, 26, is attracting attention from Liverpool and Chelsea. (Caught Offside), external
'No belief in the stands, no belief on the pitch'published at 15:57 BST 11 May
15:57 BST 11 May
Lola Katz Roberts Fan contributor
Image source, Getty Images
Saturday afternoon like so many this season, ended with the team in red being outworked, outfought and outthought by the opposition. Chelsea, on a six-game losing streak, outrun in almost all of their Premier League games, turned up to Anfield and found it easy.
Anfield isn't supposed to be easy. It's supposed to be the hardest place. Home of the champions and all that. There aren't supposed to be gaps metres wide in the midfield for Chelsea's moody bunch of hundred million pound midfielders to stroll through. To allow this means they can gain confidence and remember why they cost one hundred million in the first place.
Anfield is supposed to be a place where price tags don't matter. Where opponents are humbled by the sheer collective will of 61,287 people — unified in a shared ambition. But that isn't what Chelsea encountered on Saturday afternoon. It isn't what Tottenham, on a five-game losing run of their own, found when they showed up to L4 in similarly downtrodden condition.
At a certain point it ceases to be coincidence or luck that Liverpool have so often accommodated a weak opponent desperately needing encouragement. Chelsea's players visibly grew through the contest.
And it doesn't wash because Liverpool don't have to win the title every season for fans to go home satisfied. They don't have to win any trophies or even compete for them. But they do have to show an identity, and a desire to be part of all that Liverpool Football Club represents.
And this season, time and again, this group has been found lacking.
The excuses don't wash anymore because it's May and I don't know what a Liverpool goal looks like. They don't wash because Liverpool have conceded a Premier League record 18 goals from set-pieces this season. They don't wash because the team still looks short of fitness and it doesn't wash because these players are, or at least were in September, the envy of Europe.
No belief in the stands, no belief on the pitch. The football team a joyless chasm of emptiness compared to teams before them. Time to end it. Time to bring the joy back to Anfield.
'Story of the season' - Westerveld on Chelsea drawpublished at 12:52 BST 11 May
12:52 BST 11 May
Image source, Getty Images
Liverpool have lost the "perfect balance" that they had last season, says their former goalkeeper Sander Westerveld, as the "story of the season" continued in Saturday's draw against Chelsea.
Arne Slot's side took the lead early in the first half against the out-of-form Blues, but their "passive" approach cost them three points as they failed to confirm Champions League qualification.
"It's the story of this season," Westerveld told BBC Radio Merseyside after the match.
"All the injuries, not fit players and Curtis Jones playing right-back again so it's never really a fit team. They start well and score a great goal but we can't get it over the line. They can't dominate the game or ball possession and Chelsea played very well. They found space too easy and we gave them too much space at the back."
Westerveld added: "Last season, I think what Slot did was get that 100% forward play, that aggressive pressing from Jurgen [Klopp] – he changed it a little bit to dominate the ball and keeping the ball a little bit more and the balance was perfect.
"But this season it seems the balance has gone the other way; too passive, you play the ball around the back for too long to each other, nobody is moving and at the end, even the crowd starts booing.
Ben: Yet again, Liverpool look like the Liverpool from the 90s/2000s: a lot of hope and expectation, but no end product and struggling against teams that others have been knocking seven bells out of. Although it looks like Champions League football should be coming back to Anfield next season, barring a serious problem, it should still be with a different manager at the helm. Slot is not the person to take the club forward, especially given how backwards they have been this season!
Chris: Liverpool's greatest strength is arguably the Anfield crowd, with whom Slot's relationship is hanging by a thread. His job must be too.
Erik: Just flat, devoid of ideas and seeing the season out really. Really hoping for change and some spark next season.
Fuzzy: No pressing, no intensity, no identity, no passion. If Rio was subbed because of an injury, then fine. But if it was another Slot tactical change, it was criminal to take him off, because he was our best player going forward. As for Slot, no ideas!
Chelsea fans
Tristan: Finally, we have found some courage and confidence. Again, conceding early and a disappointing second half but this is a boosting performance. Although we are not going to do it, let's just keep on believing for Champions League football and pray Villa win the Europa League.
Andrea: I thought that we were much improved. We created chances and were on top for some parts of the game. We could have won it during the second part of the first half.
Edmund: Excellent performance by these Chelsea lads. Proved they still can put up a fight. Hopefully, once we sort out our manager's position, we will be back to our usual Chelsea self next season. But the appointment of our manager must be an inspiring and competent one. No more experiments.
Pete: Chelsea are a young team but they are not playing consistently as a team yet. Can somebody teach them to put in a well-managed game, with some flair, and know when to tighten up? Will anyone stay as manager long enough to do that? Everyone who knows football understands multiple managers within a season is a sign the owners do not understand.
Boos 'hurt' but 'it's a reaction to the whole year' - Gomezpublished at 11:03 BST 11 May
11:03 BST 11 May
Image source, Getty Images
Defender Joe Gomez says "it does hurt" to hear the Liverpool crowd voice their frustrations but they are "entitled" to do so after a disappointing campaign.
Not for the first time this season, there were loud boos at full-time at Anfield on Saturday after the Reds' 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
"We've all said on record a few times this year that we know this is not where we want to be and the position we want to be in," said Gomez. "We get it, we understand it.
"I guess it just is a summary of our year and it's a reaction to the whole year, and that's fair enough.
"The fans pay their hard-earned money to come and watch us and they're entitled to show their frustration, in the same way they cheer us."
On whether he finds it hurtful, he added: "We feel it. It's the last thing we want.
"For us older boys who have experienced so many good times here it does hurt. If it didn't, then you shouldn't still be here. We want to make it right."
Saturday's draw means Liverpool have now dropped nine points from winning positions in Premier League home games this season, their most at Anfield in a single campaign since 2015-16 (14).
"The main thing is that we're a team and we understand that in the dressing room we don't come in after a result like that without disappointment," Gomez said.
"There's frustrations and there's been plenty of voices and discussions and meetings from different people – staff and players.
"The black and white thing now is that we need Champions League football. That's the objective.
"Then we dust ourselves off and we go again and go into the [next] year and have a good start."
'I've never heard a crowd get onto a manager so much'published at 09:31 BST 11 May
09:31 BST 11 May
Image source, Getty Images
Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison believes there will be "some big question marks" around Arne Slot after fans booed his decision-making in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
The Dutch head coach took Liverpool's bright spark Rio Ngumoha during the second half at Anfield, a decision which was widely booed by the crowd.
Morrison said: "Liverpool started off brilliantly and got a goal through Ryan Gravenberch but they just sat back after that, let Chelsea back into the game and made mistakes.
"I've watched Liverpool so much this season and they are so passive. They don't go and press the ball like they did under Jurgen Klopp, they just let teams back into games.
"Then Arne Slot went and took off the one player who was taking the ball on and giving his side a spark in Rio Ngumoha this weekend, all because he wanted to keep the likes of Cody Gakpo on.
"I've never heard a crowd get onto a manager and a group of players as much as I'm currently seeing at Liverpool. It is a club known for having some of the best fans, who always stick with the team and the management.
"So there are going to be some big question marks over Arne Slot."
The Telegraph's Luke Edwards added: "I've got a lot of Liverpool supporting friends and they have turned, they have gone.
"They feel the team and the players have regressed. They aren't sure that the players look like they want to play for the manager anymore. They feel there is no passion or determination. They feel there isn't really an identity there.
"Now that is pretty harsh for any manager, isn't it? It is very hard to win back a fanbase when they are turning inside a stadium."
Gossip: Liverpool speak to Real as they consider Alonso appointmentpublished at 08:17 BST 11 May
08:17 BST 11 May
Liverpool have spoken to Real Madrid about Xabi Alonso's brief tenure with the Spanish club as they consider whether their former midfielder is a future managerial candidate. (AS - in Spanish), external
Italy full-back Andrea Cambiaso has emerged as an option for Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United as Juventus could make the 26-year-old available for transfer this summer. (Teamtalk), external
Liverpool 'lack identity' - Rooneypublished at 11:01 BST 10 May
11:01 BST 10 May
Media caption,
Former Premier League striker Wayne Rooney says Liverpool have "no identity" and Arne Slot's players look disinterested against Chelsea on Saturday.
"They haven't got an identity in how they play, the players don't look like they're interested in playing for the team and the fans are seeing that now," said Rooney on BBC Match of the Day.
"Liverpool fans usually give their players and manager time, and are patient with them, but I think they are starting to lose their patience."
Ashley Williams added: "They made a lot of changes in the summer and it's taken a long time to integrate them.
"But going forward, I'm not sure which of these players Arne Slot will try and build his team around and who are his core players.
"At the minute, I don't see where they are going."
Analysis: Another missed opportunitypublished at 15:59 BST 9 May
15:59 BST 9 May
Aadam Patel Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
The booing at full-time from the Liverpool crowd told you exactly what the fans made of yet another disappointing display.
When they took the lead in the sixth minute, Chelsea were there for the taking, but this Liverpool side lack intensity and their xG (expected goals) score of 0.51 in the end was their lowest in a Premier League home game since March 2021.
Liverpool have now dropped nine points from winning positions in Premier League home games this season, their most at Anfield in a single campaign since 2015-16 (14).
Arne Slot's decision to take off Rio Ngumoha in the 67th minute will be debated and perhaps the Liverpool boss made it with the best interests of the 17-year-old in mind, but the truth is that his side lacked any major threat once the youngster went off.
And ultimately, this was another missed opportunity for Liverpool against a side who earned their first Premier League point in 66 days.
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: What Slot saidpublished at 15:01 BST 9 May
15:01 BST 9 May
Media caption,
Liverpool boss Arne Slot speaking to BBC Match of the Day about the performance: "We started off really well, scored a goal, went really close to a second with a set piece, and then after that we struggled to control the game. They were able to find their midfielders a lot, they played with a lot of midfielders, so our timing of picking them up wasn't always perfect. After that spell, they were the better team without getting big chances.
"They scored from a set piece which led to 1-1, so in the second half we changed our set-up a little bit in terms of how we wanted to press. That led to them scoring a goal straightaway, which luckily for us was offside. But afterwards we did that much better than in the first half, which meant we could control the ball more, hit the post and hit the bar - but it just didn't go in."
On the supporters' reaction to him taking Rio Ngumoha off: "I can completely understand that they wanted to see him longer. What they probably didn't notice is that three minutes before it he fell to the floor with cramp. I had a contact with him about playing on but he was really doubting it. He gave the signal that he had to come off. I knew it wasn't the most popular decision."
On whether having to wait to qualify for Champions League football is frustrating: "Yes because we wanted to qualify for it weeks ago. It isn't the season we're having though. Sometimes it is really hard to accept these results because we are used to different ones, but we have to keep fighting as we saw in the second half. We have to go on to Villa Park."
Did you know?
Liverpool have dropped nine points from winning positions in Premier League home games this season, their most at Anfield in a single campaign since 2015-16 (14).
Excluding penalties, only Bournemouth (19) have conceded more goals from set pieces than Liverpool (18) in the Premier League this season.
Interim boss Calum McFarlane makes five changes, including giving a first start of the season to Levi Colwill after his return from a serious knee injury.
Goalkeeper Rob Sanchez and teenage forward Jesse Derry are ruled out after sustaining head injuries last week, with Filip Jorgensen in goal and Chelsea switching to a back five to compensate.
Academy attackers Ryan Kavuma-McQueen and Mathis Eboue are included in the matchday squad at Anfield.
Chelsea XI: Jorgensen, Gusto, Fofana, Hato, Colwill, Cucurella, Andrey Santos, Caicedo, Fernandez, Palmer, Joao Pedro
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Fulham v Bournemouth" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Man City v Brentford", for instance.
Liverpool v Chelsea: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:08 BST 8 May
19:08 BST 8 May
Liverpool face Chelsea at Anfield on Saturday (12:30 BST), with both sides looking for a late-season lift.
Reds hope to avoid landmark defeat
Liverpool's place in next season's Champions League could be confirmed this weekend, which would bring some relief in what has been a difficult campaign, one that captain Virgil van Dijk says has been "very disappointing" and "unacceptable".
Last weekend's defeat at Manchester United meant Liverpool's old foes had done the double over the Reds for the first time in a decade. Liverpool finished 42 points clear of United last season but look set to finish behind them in 2025-26.
It also meant Arne Slot's side have suffered 18 defeats in all competitions this season, the most since they lost 19 in 2009-10. Another defeat would be only the fourth time that Liverpool have lost more than 18 games in a campaign since 1962.
But they do now have the chance to bounce back against another big rival in the shape of a woefully out-of-form Chelsea, who have won on just one of their last 10 Premier League visits to Anfield, a 1-0 victory in March 2021.
Arne Slot said recently that the summer represented the start of a new cycle and he has a lot of things to sort out.
They include how to bolster a defence that has conceded two or more goals in 16 different Premier League matches this season, their second-highest such figure.
Chelsea's goal search
Bar an upturn in form and a helping hand from Aston Villa, Chelsea's minimum pre-season target of Champions League football will be missed.
Any hope that FA Cup semi-final success would permeate into their league form was quashed with their lacklustre home defeat by Nottingham Forest on Monday, described by interim boss Calum McFarlane as "massively disappointing".
It's now six league defeats in a row for Chelsea – another at Liverpool means they will equal their worst-ever such run of seven in a row, set in 1952.
The problems have come at both ends. They have scored just once in their last six games - Joao Pedro's injury-time consolation against Forest - which ended a run of 565 minutes without a league goal.
The Brazilian striker is Chelsea's top scorer in all competitions with 20 goals but it is in the league where his 15 goals have been most vital, given the lack of contribution from most of his team-mates, bar Cole Palmer.
Joao Pedro has been directly involved in seven of the Blues' past nine league goals, scoring six and assisting one. He and Palmer have scored 10 of Chelsea's last 11 league goals, with the other coming from an own goal.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, Chelsea have conceded in each of their last 13 league games, letting in three goals in four of their past five.
The Blues need to arrest their alarming league form or they are in danger of suffering their worst league finish this century, which was when they were 12th in 2022-23, the first season under current owners BlueCo.
Sutton's predictions: Liverpool v Chelseapublished at 19:07 BST 8 May
19:07 BST 8 May
Liverpool still look like they will finish in the Champions League places even after their defeat by Manchester United last time out, but that result was the latest disappointment in what has been a poor season by their standards.
Chelsea have bigger problems, however. It is all falling apart for them and, after six straight league defeats, they are down in ninth place and absolutely desperate for a result here.
I just don't see them getting anything at Anfield though. Cole Palmer looks a shadow of the player we know he is and they are struggling defensively too.
Criticism, transition and discontentpublished at 17:20 BST 8 May
17:20 BST 8 May
Aadam Patel Liverpool reporter
Image source, Getty Images
It was interesting to hear Arne Slot suggest that even if Liverpool win their last three games with very good performances, that would still not silence the criticism that has come his way.
The Liverpool boss is well aware of the atmosphere surrounding his side at the moment, after a season that has seen them lose 18 times already across all competitions.
And even though Champions League qualification could be secured this weekend, this will always be a season where Liverpool have underperformed and failed to live up to expectations.
Captain Virgil van Dijk used the words "disappointing" and "unacceptable" after their defeat to Manchester United. With Chelsea, who have lost their last six Premier League games, visiting on Saturday, Liverpool simply need to deliver.
And both the players and manager will know the importance of trying to finish the season with a flurry ahead of what Slot described as "a bit of transition" that awaits this summer.
The Dutchman insisted that he is looking forward to the future, rather than worrying. If Liverpool can finish the season with an element of positivity, then perhaps such thoughts will be justified - otherwise the discontent from the fanbase will only grow.
Image source, Getty Images
