Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is never afraid to criticize his old club. But he thinks some fans have gone too far when it comes to Arne Slot.
21:49, 21 Jan 2026
Jamie Carragher launched his latest defense of Arne Slot
Jamie Carragher launched his latest defense of Arne Slot(Image: CBS Sports)
Jamie Carragher has criticized sections of the Liverpool fanbase for going too far in their criticism of Arne Slot. He believes some supporters have been deceived by out-of-context quotes.
Frustration with Slot has been gradually building over the course of the campaign. The head coach appeared to have stopped the rot after a succession of chastening defeats, but the current unbeaten run has become increasingly torturous, featuring home draws against all of the newly-promoted sides.
But at the same time, it remains true that Slot delivered the Premier League title to Anfield a matter of months ago. And while the sudden availability of Xabi Alonso has presented a realistic alternative on the market, Carragher believes the Dutchman deserves more patience.
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Carragher acknowledged that there are plenty of issues in the Liverpool side at present. He defended Slot's initial pragmatism in ending the defeats, but expressed a view that it's time to take the handbrake off once more:
"I can understand [the frustration]" Carragher conceded, speaking on CBS Sports Golazo. "I think when the manager was in a run of nine defeats in 12 games, that's not acceptable, he had to stop that somewhere, and that's where the whole Mo Salah thing sort of blew up.
"He has stopped the defeats, but the way he's gone about that has probably almost gone on for too long. You can accept that for the first four or five games, it's not the Liverpool he wants, it's not the Liverpool we want to watch, but the most important thing is stopping the defeats, getting a few wins, draws here and there.
"But this has sort of carried on now for a couple of months, it feels like, and it's almost gone on too long, and it has to change in the second half of the season, there [needs to be] a bit more energy and excitement about watching Liverpool."
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Few would disagree with much of that assessment. Carragher is not giving Slot a free ride, but he is acknowledging some of the context, taking into account the credit that Slot has in the bank from his Premier League triumph.
Yet it's that Premier League trophy which has become the latest flashpoint among some of Slot's more vocal critics. Fans have bristled at the manager's gentle reminder that he is one of just two coaches to deliver titles to Anfield in the past 30 years.
However, Carragher believes that this exchange has been taken out of context. And he thinks the vitriolic response has crossed a line in some cases.
"I think some of the criticism the manager's had, and he gets from Liverpool supporters, I think it's just way out of line and way over the top," Carragher admonished. "This is a guy who, six months ago, won the league title.
Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool celebrates as the team bus passes through fans in celebration during the Liverpool Trophy Parade on May 26, 2025 in Liverpool, England.
Happier recent times for Arne Slot and Liverpool.(Image: Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"And he's done an interview today for another broadcaster, and they've used the headline of, "Liverpool have won the league twice in 30 years, and I was one of the guys who won it." And we all do this on social media, it gets everyone clicking, so all Liverpool fans are going mad at it.
"He hasn't said that, if you listen to the full interview... In context, right? Yeah, put it in context.
"So I get a bit frustrated on his part, because he's very calm and measured in press conferences. He was like that last year, even when Liverpool won it, he's like that right now, and I think he deserves a lot more respect from Liverpool supporters for what he's done in his first season at the club."
Carragher is right to point out that Slot has responded in more or less the same fashion during the highest highs and lowest lows of his reign to date. It's just that some of his soundbites have been a little more grating when things have not been going Liverpool's way.
Even so, that's no excuse for some of the attacks that have come his way. And that's all the more true when fans are getting annoyed about quotes they have not heard in context.
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Ultimately, it seems highly likely that Slot will be the one to see out the season. Supporters have every right to be disgruntled, but Carragher's call for fairness should be heeded.