It is a weird vibe at Liverpool right now, with discontent around Arne Slot continuing to fester in many corners of the fanbase.
The criticism has been building for months, but it felt especially sharp during and after the reaction from Liverpool fans against Chelsea at the weekend. More and more supporters are calling for Slot to be sacked, particularly with rumours continuing around Xabi Alonso and a possible Chelsea move.
Still, Joe Cole is not having it. The former Liverpool winger has been left baffled by the mood around the club, and his pointed remarks show he is firmly not in the camp calling for change.
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Joe Cole can’t believe how Liverpool fans have turned on Arne Slot
For months now, there have been Liverpool supporters who have had enough of Slot.
The general feeling for a while was that Champions League qualification would be enough to keep him in the job for next season. There are obvious mitigating circumstances, too.
But fans are not feeling especially patient with the Dutchman. That is where Cole takes issue.
Speaking on The Dressing Room podcast, he said: “I’ve never been to Anfield and felt it so restless with a manager. When we go to the game, we’re doing our homework, we’re speaking to people, they’re like, they’re not happy, they’re not happy.
“I’m like, it blows my mind. He won the league last year. All of the incidents that have happened, Jota, Isak being injured, Ekitike being injured, Wirtz, nobody saw Wirtz not settling.
“I’m like, this is so un-Liverpool, where they’re restless, right?”
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Cole sees the wider factors contributing to Liverpool’s struggles. In his view, that should ease at least some of the pressure on Slot. Liverpool’s season has not collapsed in normal circumstances, and the manager has had to deal with issues that go well beyond tactics and team selection.
Even so, the recent performances have been difficult to defend. Even the stoutest Slot supporter will have been questioning the direction of the team after some of what has unfolded in recent weeks.
But Cole’s justification appears to be the same one being used by FSG. At the moment, it looks like Slot is going nowhere.
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