Journalist: Richard Hughes needs to take responsibility for Liverpool’s struggles | OneFootball

David Lynch: Richard Hughes Must Take Responsibility for Liverpool’s Struggles

As scrutiny intensifies around Arne Slot’s future, journalist David Lynch has made it clear that the blame for Liverpool’s alarming decline should not rest solely on the head coach. Speaking on Media Matters for Anfield Index, Lynch called out sporting director Richard Hughes for his silence and lack of visibility during a period of crisis.

“We should hear more from the sporting director,” Lynch insisted. “It should be three or four times a season that he comes out and answers questions about the strategy — because Slot can’t.”

The Silence From the Top

Since his appointment, Hughes has rarely spoken publicly, leaving Slot to answer for everything from transfer inactivity to injury management. For Lynch, this is not only unfair, it’s unsustainable: “Slot has to face questions from us about things that are above his head. And if he answers them honestly, he risks the sack.”

Lynch pointed to Slot’s increasing isolation, with the manager now left to front up week after week while others stay quiet: “They’re putting him in an impossible situation. If this is supposed to be a collaborative model, then where’s the collaboration when it comes to responsibility?”

Big Questions, No Answers

The lack of communication from Hughes has left a vacuum around key strategic decisions. “There are so many questions to ask,” Lynch said. “What’s the plan for transitioning to a post-Salah world? Why didn’t they think wingers were going to be important in this team?”

He went further: “Why is it constantly boom and bust under FSG? Why does every successful cycle have to fall apart before it gets addressed?” These are the types of long-term planning questions Lynch believes Hughes should be answering, especially as Slot continues to shield him from criticism.

Where Is the Accountability?

Liverpool’s decline — five wins in 18, sixth in the table, 12th in the form table — has been dramatic. But Lynch is adamant that Hughes should be held accountable for more than just transfers: “It’s not just about signing players. It’s about whether the club has the right direction and infrastructure. Right now, that’s all in question.”

As fans voice their anger and media pressure grows, Lynch argued that stepping forward would actually help ease the burden on Slot. “Take some of the pressure off the guy. If it’s a collegiate decision-making structure, then stand up and answer for it.”

A Club in Need of Transparency

Ultimately, Lynch believes that transparency from leadership figures like Hughes is essential — particularly when results nosedive. “If Champions League qualification is important — and they consistently say it is — then why is no one explaining how this has been allowed to happen?”

In a season quickly spiralling out of control, David Lynch’s verdict is unequivocal: Arne Slot isn’t alone in this, and Richard Hughes can’t stay silent much longer.