Liverpool and Arsenal went head-to-head in a Premier League meeting at the Emirates on January 8.
It was expected to be a tough game for the Reds, who began the day 14 points behind their opponents.
Liverpool’s record against Arsenal is good, but there is a clear divide between Arne Slot’s struggling team and the likely 2025/26 champions right now.
Why won’t Liverpool follow Man United’s lead and SACK Arne Slot?
Amorim has joined Enzo Maresca on the 2026 Premier League scrapheap 🫨
Hugo Ekitike missed the match through injury, while there was a change in midfield as well, with Curtis Jones dropping to the bench, Dominik Szoboszlai starting in the middle, and Jeremie Frimpong deployed on the wing.
After 45 minutes of action, Liverpool looked well off the pace, and fans were once again unhappy.
Liverpool fans give clear Arne Slot verdict vs Arsenal
It was clear from the get-go that Slot had set his team up not to lose the match.
Cody Gakpo and Frimpong were constantly dropping into the backline whenever Arsenal had the ball, acting as makeshift centre-backs to try and stop the runners.
In all honesty, it felt like Arsenal were playing at home to a newly-promoted side who were just looking to steal a point, not last season’s Premier League champions.

It’s not the first time Slot’s system/tactics have caused anger among the fanbase in recent months, but they really weren’t happy during the Arsenal clash, with many expressing ‘hope’ the manager will go.
One fan wrote: “This Slot team set up is to ‘not lose’, when it should be to win. Embarrassing how this has happened in one season.”
“I really hope we lose so badly that Slot gets the sack,” added a second.
Another stated: “Let’s hope Slot is sent packing after the game.”
A fourth echoed: “I just hope we get battered so more chance of Slot being sacked.”
“Sack Slot at half-time man, I’ve had enough of this,” demanded another Liverpool supporter.
“We gotta sack Slot I know they’re good but look at us every week,” stated a sixth.
Another pointed out that the manager had contradicted himself with how he set Liverpool up against Arsenal: “Arne Slot said Liverpool play attacking football and are open to go pound for pound like the PSG game, so why are we parking the bus against Arsenal?? Sack this man.”
While the clamour for Slot to go is growing with each passing week, it doesn’t look likely he will be leaving yet.
Recent reports suggested Liverpool have no plans to change managers right now, with a potential move in the summer instead mooted.
That would make sense given FSG’s history with coaches, but it does mean we have another five months of Slot-ball to endure.
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