Former Holland international Wesley Sneijder has pointed to an error from Liverpool and an apparent misjudgement by Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso has been linked with replacing Arne Slot at Liverpool
Xabi Alonso has been linked with replacing Arne Slot at Liverpool(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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Liverpool have been told they made "one very big mistake" by letting Luis Diaz leave last summer - with Xabi Alonso criticised for seemingly flirting with the Reds given Arne Slot remains in charge.
Diaz was a key part of Liverpool claiming a record-equalling 20th championship last season before leaving for Bayern Munich in a £65.5million deal.
While the Reds having subsequently struggled to replace the winger and suffered a disappointing defence of the title, the Colombian has been in outstanding form for Bayern in helping them romp to the Bundesliga crown and reach the Champions League semi-finals.
And former Holland international Wesley Sneijder believes regardless of the reasons behind Diaz's departure, Liverpool should have kept hold of the player.
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"I hope for Liverpool and Arne Slot that things improve," he said. "He made one very big mistake: selling Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich. If there’s one thing to criticise, that’s it. He’s amazing. A great player.
"But there were probably reasons behind it as well. We are not there every day with the team or the financial department. Maybe they needed to sell him.
"But as an outsider looking at Liverpool and seeing Díaz perform at Bayern Munich, that’s difficult for me to understand."
Liverpool boss Slot has come under intense scrutiny with his team still having not secured Champions League qualification with two matches of the season remaining.
Despite Reds owners Fenway Sports Group still retaining faith in the head coach, former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has been consistently linked with replacing Slot since being sacked by Real Madrid in January.
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And Sneijder claimed: "When Xabi Alonso got sacked, he was already directly flirting with Liverpool and I don’t believe that is very beautiful because Arne Slot is doing a great job at Liverpool.
"They had a tough season, and there were a lot of things what happened at the club and we all know what happened at the beginning of the season which hurt them a lot.
"It may have given them these performances. In the beginning, they were not performing the way they did the year before and that was really hard.
"But they always kept fighting, in the league and in the Champions League as well. It was a tough season, but I don’t know if you should directly change the coach. Arne Slot is a nice guy, a good coach, and he has done great things there."
Speaking to Hard Rock Bet, Sneijder added: "But that’s football. When results are not there, there’s always one person responsible because you cannot sack 15 players. It’s always easier to sack one coach and start again with another one.
"After two weeks, everybody forgets you. That’s what happened with Jurgen Klopp. The day he left was amazing with all the celebrations, but after two weeks they were all cheering for Arne Slot. That’s football."