Liverpool are struggling after winning the title last season, with Arne Slot calling for patience during a 'transition phase', but Gary Neville has rejected the Dutchman's explanation after the club's summer spending
Isaac Seelochan Senior Sports Journalist
11:08, 26 Jan 2026
Gary Neville speaks
Gary Neville has disagreed with Liverpool boss Arne Slot(Image: Sky Sports)
Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville has voiced his disagreement with Liverpool manager Arne Slot's claim that the Reds are in a transition season. The heat is on for Slot as his squad continues to falter, despite a whopping summer spending spree.
Liverpool suffered a last-gasp 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday, bringing their 13-match unbeaten streak to an end and extending their Premier League winless run to five games. Now sitting sixth in the top-flight table, Slot's side find themselves 14 points adrift of league leaders Arsenal after 23 fixtures.
This season's struggles mark a stark contrast from Liverpool's largely dominant performance last term, when they clinched the title by a 10-point margin under Slot's guidance. Many anticipated the Reds would build on their 20th English top-flight title victory and continue to reign supreme.
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However, Slot stated last week that he, Fenway Sports Group - the club's owners, and sporting director Richard Hughes are all in agreement that this season represents a "transition phase" for the club. Amid mounting pressure, the Dutchman has called for patience.
He commented: "You cannot play attacking football with the ball possession we have and sometimes it is a disadvantage for us that we have that much possession because people expect more from the possession you have.
"But if you want to have more ball possession the moment you don't have it, you have to press really high because the moment you go into a low block you don't have possession.
"So everyone at the club, me, ownership, sporting directors and we know what it takes to make the next step in this transition phase. But sometimes a little bit of patience is needed in that as well."
However, Neville has taken issue with Slot's perspective. On Sunday's Gary Neville Podcast, the former England international argued that talk of a transition season at Anfield simply doesn't wash following such significant investment in new players.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot during his side's Premier League defeat at Bournemouth.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot during his side's Premier League defeat at Bournemouth.(Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
The 50 year old said: "I watched the Liverpool game and I always think when you win a league title that you have a lot of credit in the bank and it takes a lot to erode, it's a hard thing to do.
"Arne Slot has won that title with that group of players last season. I've heard a couple of interviews in the past week from Liverpool people, including the manager, and it was always going to be a transition season. Forget that, I'm not listening to that.
"£450m spent in the summer on all those players was the season you were going to win back-to-back titles. Let's not rewrite history on what everyone was saying in the summer, including non-Liverpool people. I'm not saying Liverpool people or fans were getting carried away.
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"But there was definitely a feeling Ekitike, Wirtz, Isak, Frimpong, Kerkez wasn't a transition season transfer window, it was adding to a very stable squad of champions; with the likes of Salah and Van Dijk re-signed, with the likes of Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Konate and Alisson. This wasn't a rebuild.
"I've heard transition mentioned a couple of times this week, but I'm not hearing that at all. You can't rewrite history."
Liverpool will now be aiming to rediscover their rhythm with three successive fixtures at Anfield on the horizon. The Reds welcome Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday evening before hosting Newcastle United on Saturday, followed by a challenging encounter with Manchester City eight days later.