Former Liverpool player Jermaine Pennant has slammed Arne Slot for making the Reds ‘unrecognisable’ during their disappointing Champions League defeat against PSG.
It said everything that Slot and Liverpool were reasonably happy to come away from Paris with ‘only’ a two-goal deficit after failing to lay a glove on the French champions.
And according to Pennant, the defensive-minded set-up provided by Slot was as far from Liverpool’s DNA as it is possible to get.
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Pennant doesn’t recognise Liverpool under Slot
It is easy to understand why Slot decided he needed to go with a more defensive 3-5-2 formation against PSG, and in parts it worked okay.
But it is not what Liverpool supporters want, or expect, to see from their team when facing fellow big sides in the Champions League.
Pennant summed that up when taking to X after Wednesday’s defeat, suggesting that he can’t quite believe what Liverpool have now become.
“If I speak I’ll be in trouble,” the pundit posted. “So the highlight and best thing about tonight, was seeing Alexander Isak back fit and get a run out. I clapped and I cheered enough said.”
Arne Slot applauds Liverpool supporters after their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
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“I was a Liverpool fan way before I became a pro footballer. As someone who genuinely cares & watches every single game… This is a disaster.
“Slot, you won the league last year with a style of play and DNA of Liverpool that Klopp built. This team is now close to unrecognisable.”
Analysis: Liverpool have to make a change
It feels as though the Liverpool hierarchy should be getting closer to sacking Slot with every passing week.
Saturday’s 4-0 defeat was clearly worse than what happened in Paris, but in some ways Wednesday night was equally as damning for the Liverpool head coach.
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Arne Slot reacts with frustration during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League last-16 second-leg match against Galatasaray at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine
Perhaps it is an unhelpful comparison to make, but the Reds would never have turned up against any opponent in the Champions League in such a defensive manner under Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool did suffer heavy defeats under the German, of course, not least the embarrassing 5-2 loss against Real Madrid at Anfield in 2023. But they always approached matches believing that they could win against anyone.
Wednesday night showed just how far removed this Liverpool team now are from this, and while it is not all on him, the buck has to stop with Slot.
If the Reds do not make a change this summer, they risk slipping further into an underdog identity which fans simply cannot accept. Pennant knows it as well as every other supporter out there, the only remaining question is whether FSG are ready to finally see the light as well.
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