Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant has launched a blistering attack on manager Arne Slot and the club’s ownership, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), declaring that the current state of affairs is “NOT acceptable” following a heavy 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa
For even the most optimistic Liverpool supporters, it’s getting harder each passing week to see how Arne Slot is able to pull his side out of the rut they find themselves in, and that is further demonstrated following their 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa.
While the defeats are bad enough, which means they require a result against Brentford on the final of the Premier League campaign to ensure Champions League qualification, the roots of these struggles go deeper.
The lack of intensity on display is a concern for many Kopites who are finding it tough to see the way the Dutch head coach wants to set up, regardless of injuries.
For months at this point, Florian Wirtz has yet to find his ideal place on Slot’s side, and he’s not the only member from last summer’s signings. Jeremie Frimpong doesn’t seem to match what is required of a fullback in the team, while Alexander Isak feels wasted when he’s in the starting XI.
These factors are weighing more and more, a feeling that is not passing for fans who can’t understand why everything is falling apart following last year’s title success. One of the people in this camp is former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant.
The Englishman has been critical of the Dutchman for weeks on social media, and his anger directed at the club followed after the defeat at Villa Park. He can’t justify the feeling of slowing walking into next season without some sort of decision from the owners.
On X/Twitter, he said, “FSG how on do you see something totally different to what I see and 99.9% of the fans see? To think next season will be any better under this management. Do you have unlimited funds we dont know about?”
FSG how on earth do you see something totally different to what I see and 99.9% of the fans see? To think next season will be any better under this management. Do you have unlimited funds we dont know about?.
— Jermaine Pennant (@pennant83) May 15, 2026
One of the main candidates amongst the fanbase to replace Slot seemed to be Xabi Alonso, though recent news looks like Chelsea will be picking up the former Reds midfielder as their new manager ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, with Liverpool sitting back and allowing the Blues a free run on the Spanish boss.
While Alonso may not be the correct decision to lead the Anfield outfit could be an answer as to why, though the club seem content on sitting on their own hands.
FSG have regularly taken action when required when it comes to people in management areas, as in the past with Brendan Rodgers and Kenny Dalglish, though news briefing coming from the club’s direction suggests that he will remain in the dugout, which is a baffling decision to a growing percentage of fans.
£450 million was spent on a title winning team last year, though the remanents of that success are close to being gone, with a large chunk of change being necessary in allowing the team to make the moves they need in order to regain the control they had in the league in the Dutch head coaches first campaign on Merseyside.
Though with the failures of last summer’s signings, the question lingers over both the club and Slot. What would be the purpose of giving him a large budget once again if the team has regressed? Outside of last year, FSG aren’t notorious for heavy spending, and that could lead to the team having more holes in the team.
The defeat to the Villans was the 12th time they had lost in the league this campaign, matching Sunderland and Leeds United. Pennant believes this is the last piece of evidence needed to make a change. “Slot has to go that is NOT acceptable, the buck lies with you, and managers have gone for less.”
The Englishman’s take is growing with fans, but the uncertainity of the teams direction is causing alarm bells to go off, as it feels even the people at the top don’t know what is going to happen following the game next weekend with the Bees.
Slot has credit in the bank from last year’s silverware, but as Pennant made clear, sentimentality cannot outweigh momentum at Anfield. If the Reds fail to secure a top-four finish against Brentford next weekend, the decision might just make itself.