“I agree with them”: Arne Slot sides with fans over Liverpool’s ‘boring’ tag

Arne Slot has suggested Liverpool fans have not been getting the “joy” they deserve from watching the Reds this season.

Liverpool have struggled to find consistency all season, and the Reds’ poor run of form since September has seen Slot’s men drop to sixth in the table.

After winning the Premier League title in his debut year at Liverpool, Slot has been plagued by second-season syndrome this time around.

Despite splashing out on Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike last summer, Liverpool have failed in their bid to win back-to-back league titles for the first time since 1984.

However, what has concerned Reds fans more is the loss of their identity under Slot, after being spoiled with “heavy metal” football under his legendary predecessor Jurgen Klopp.

In contrast, Liverpool’s style of play has been nonexistent this season, with Slot often being left frustrated by stubborn low-blocks in the Premier League.

It’s this lack of creativity to unlock defences which has seen some label the Reds as boring to watch this season, and Slot is well aware of the criticisms being thrown his way.

“We were so spoilt with Klopp.” ️

Paddy Pimblett really thinks Liverpool are BORING this season pic.twitter.com/1cxlN9j0Ul

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 17, 2026

Slot: I want to play the nicest football

Slot was quizzed by Liverpool’s club media during an interesting roundtable discussion alongside sporting director Richard Hughes and CEO Billy Hogan

The trio were asked about the challenges that Liverpool have faced this season in a difficult campaign so far, and Slot had some interesting things to say about his ambitions as Reds manager.

“As a manager, you can win the league, you can win the Champions League, you can win an FA Cup or a League Cup, but the biggest thing you can win is that you can play the nicest football to watch”, said Slot.

In stressing the importance of aesthetics in his approach to the game, the Dutchman suggested Liverpool fans have been left shortchanged at Anfield this season.

“Something I dislike the most, I would almost say even more than our results, even more than the league table, that not all of our fans are every single moment of the game seeing us as a joy to watch. The hardest thing is I even understand, because I agree with them,” Slot continued.

“Trophies are one thing. But being a team or a club or a manager that stands for something, that stands for good football, is I think in the long term even worth more.”

Liverpool CEO urges fans to be patient

The overall message from the roundtable discussion was one of togetherness from the Liverpool trio.

Whilst results have not matched the expectations after a productive summer transfer window, Liverpool have no plans to sack Slot despite some of the negative responses to Liverpool’s style of play this season.

CEO Hogan has instead urged fans to be patient and see the recent turnover in the squad as part of a long-term project.

“These are long-term strategic decisions in terms of the folks that we recruit,” Hogan explained.

“Forget about just on the team, that’s coaching staff, backroom staff, our team on the commercial side.

“We’re trying to find the best people possible in their particular position to come and join the club and take it forward in a really meaningful way.

“This has been a challenging last several months, but I think there’s an element of patience which is required – difficult in the world we live in.”

Liverpool must continue to deliver trophies

Despite an emphasis on style from Arne Slot, the Liverpool board were keen to address the importance of winning trophies.

For a club the size of Liverpool, Hogan insists the work is never done to ensure the Reds maintain their place at the top of the game after some difficult years before FSG’s takeover in 2010.

“The journey we’ve been on since 2010 over the last 15 years, it sounds maybe trite or simplistic to say: to continue that journey,” Hogan told Liverpool FC.

“The term ‘sleeping giant’ was used when FSG was looking at Liverpool, in terms of this incredible potential that the club had, and it had obviously fallen on some difficult times. Our job and our focus has been on trying to return it to – as we believe – its rightful place.

“That job is frankly never done, that’s something we’re constantly working on. Improvements that we’ve made from an infrastructure standpoint, the continued investment in the squad.

“At the end of the day, this is about winning trophies and about making our supporters happy and proud of the team. We’re going to continue to do that.”