Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant has asked his former club to sack Arne Slot in the summer. The Reds played out a 1-1 draw against a struggling Chelsea on May 9.
Liverpool started quickly as Ryan Gravenberch gave them an early lead with a curling effort from outside the box. Chelsea then found an equalizer after an Enzo Fernandez free-kick crept into the goal after 35 minutes. Both teams saw goals disallowed for offside by VAR in the second half but neither team took the chance to snatch the win.
Slot's football has been criticized by fans this season for being too slow and methodical without much end product. Despite having the backing of the Anfield club's board, Slot has been put under pressure by the fans of the club highlighed by the boos aimed at him for substituting out teenager Rio Ngumoha.
The Reds were without key players Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Alisson Becker who are all nursing injuries. Alexander Isak could only feature in the second half after recovering from a groin issue picked up earlier in the month.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Pennant who made 81 appearances for Liverpool between 2006 and 2009 claimed that he had lost faith in the Dutch manager and insisted that injuries can't be used as excuses anymore. He said:
“Enough of the excuses now, yes injuries don’t help but every team has injuries, but this is enough now, Slot can not be the manager next season, cos this style of football is not Liverpool,” Pennant posted.
“Don’t tell me he won the league last season, he’s got to go end of.”
Liverpool have 2 games remaining in the Premier League, they will play Aston Villa and Brentford. The Reds currently have 59 points, just one ahead of Villa who have a game in hand. The Anfield club need to secure atleast 3 points to secure automatic UEFA Champions League qualification next season.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot explains why he subbed out Rio Ngumoha in Chelsea draw
Slot admitted that he understood the boos from the Liverpool supporters for taking out Rio Ngumoha, but insisted he had to make the cause because the young England winger was suffering from cramps. He said (via The Guardian):
“Rio had cramps before then when he went to the floor. Then I had contact with him and he said that was enough, that’s why I took him off. It makes complete sense [the boos] if you take off a player who is playing well and had assisted. It wasn’t my intention to take him off but he is not at the level yet where he can play at 50/60% and make a difference. He wasn’t fit enough to sprint."