Arne Slot ‘deserves more respect’ according to former Liverpool star | OneFootball

Former Liverpool Star Defends Arne Slot after Recent Struggles

Boudewijn Zenden has stepped forward with a firm defence of Liverpool manager Arne Slot, urging a sense of perspective during a season that has drifted far from last year’s title-winning highs. His intervention arrives at a moment when scrutiny around the Dutchman has intensified, and external voices have begun floating destabilising alternatives.

Liverpool’s second campaign under Slot has lacked the rhythm and control that defined their 2024-25 Premier League triumph. Six league defeats already have left the team sitting 10th in the table, 10 points adrift of leaders Arsenal, and a bruising 4-1 loss to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield sparked talk of crisis. Jamie Carragher even argued that the manager had a week to save his job after that result. Yet Liverpool have responded with four unbeaten matches, including an impressive victory away to Inter Milan that steadied nerves across the fanbase.

Against this noisy backdrop, Rio Ferdinand recently suggested Steven Gerrard could be an interim option if Liverpool opted for a change. Zenden pushed back firmly on such speculation, insisting it crosses a line while Slot remains in post.

Zenden’s Defence of Slot

Speaking exclusively to Empire of the Kop via BetVictor, the former Liverpool winger called out the idea of replacing a manager who delivered a league title only months ago.

Zenden said: “We have to look at two things here. Steven Gerrard is a legend. He’s a massive player. He’s been a manager already on a few occasions and has done particularly well with Rangers, but to talk about a replacement as long as someone’s in the job, I don’t feel that’s right.

Photo: IMAGO

“Arne Slot does not deserve that. He deserves respect. People should not talk about this kind of thing while he’s still very much in the job.”

His words echo the sentiment shared by many supporters who recognise both the difficulty of the current season and the magnitude of Off pitch challenges Slot has faced.

Slot’s Burden and the Realities on the Pitch

Criticism of tactical choices is part of elite football, and Slot has faced questions around team selection, substitutions and his handling of underperforming players. However, no tactical blueprint can account for moments of individual chaos, illustrated by Ibrahima Konate’s rash penalty concession at Leeds that swung the match away from Liverpool.

Slot has also confronted one of the most traumatic challenges any Premier League manager has endured, after the tragic passing of Diogo Jota earlier in the campaign. How he has guided the squad with dignity through that unimaginable loss has been widely commended.

Support That Still Runs Deep

Liverpool’s current league position falls well short of expectations and criticism of results is inevitable, but the tone of the conversation around the manager matters. Calls for replacements carry consequences, and Zenden’s argument serves as a reminder that respect is warranted for a manager who delivered a title in his first season and continues to navigate a uniquely difficult year.

The travelling Liverpool fans at the San Siro made their feelings clear during the win over Inter Milan, backing Slot with unwavering support. Their reaction suggests that despite the turbulence, the relationship between manager and supporters remains strong, and that respect, as Zenden urged, is still very much present.