An incredible trick has been played on Liverpool fans | OneFootball

Liverpool are struggling badly but fan anger has been manipulated.

Arne Slot is under immense pressure right now and correctly. Liverpool have been awful this season, all things considered, and the £400m spent last summer looks absolutely ridiculous in hindsight.

The Reds, after all, have gone massively backwards. There are holes all over the squad and everyone agrees that further mass spending is required in 2026.

That's a very poor look for Slot. 19 defeats in all competitions equals the most in a Liverpool season since 2000. It's only the third time they've lost that many since 1962.

The fans are calling for Slot to be sacked after such a disappointing campaign devoid of any reason for encouragement. The belief has been torn out of the club and something has to change.

Despite that, Liverpool have kept Slot. All reporting suggests they will persist into next season and give him another year. It's an incredibly bold decision and one that will either look inspired or stupid, especially as it'll likely cost the club Xabi Alonso.

But then, with this entire situation, why is all the pressure on Slot? Why is he the face of the embarrassment? Traditionally, the manager is the face of it all and the one who takes the blame and pressure when things don't go well.

Only, Slot isn't a manager, he's a 'head coach'. Liverpool were very clear about that - he wouldn't have the power of a 'manager', with most of it going to the sporting director.

And this is why it feels as though a trick has been played. Slot is essentially treated as a manager but without the actual power of one.

Instead, the person who took on that power, Richard Hughes, faces virtually no pressure. In fact, the only real pressure he does face is to sack Slot - but is the Dutchman the only one who should lose his job?

It was Hughes who hired Slot. He's the one who persists with him, too, and it was Hughes who oversaw the failed mass-spend of last summer. The sporting director tore up the squad and is willing to risk another year of the head coach.

Isn't that the true failure? It feels as though Hughes is actually the one underperforming massively and while Slot deserves plenty of blame for on-the-pitch decisions, he shouldn't be the face of it.