Liverpool’s head coach cited a 2023/24 Europa League elimination under Jürgen Klopp after securing a top-eight Champions League finish
Arne Slot has risked further alienating sections of the Liverpool fanbase after referencing a Europa League failure from the Jürgen Klopp era while reflecting on the club’s Champions League progress this week.
Liverpool secured a top-eight finish in the Champions League league phase on Wednesday with a dominant 6-0 win over Qarabağ, a result that confirmed automatic qualification for the round of 16 and avoided the knockout phase play-offs.
However, Slot’s post-match comments shifted focus away from the achievement itself and towards an uncomfortable comparison with the club’s recent past.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Slot framed Liverpool’s Champions League qualification by highlighting how the club were competing in the Europa League just two seasons ago – and were eliminated at the quarter-final stage.
“It’s what you want if you start the Champions League season – you want to finish top eight,” Slot said. “That helps, of course, because you skip a round and sometimes you can have a really hard team to play against in a round like that, which is shown by the teams you just mentioned.”
“So, we are happy that we are going straight away to the last 16, especially because it’s only two years ago that we were playing Europa League and we went out in the quarter-finals against Atalanta.
“So, two seasons in a row now being in the last 16, and last season we were very hungry for more and we will definitely be hungry for more this season as well.”
Arne Slot: “We are happy to be in the last 16 especially when only two years ago we were in the Europa League and lost to Atalanta.” pic.twitter.com/h7b7QEcaTL
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) January 28, 2026
Arne Slot could face backlash
While the comments were intended to underline progress, they have been interpreted by some supporters as an unnecessary reminder of a disappointing European campaign under Klopp – a figure who remains deeply revered at Anfield.
Slot arrived at Liverpool to widespread goodwill after guiding the club to the Premier League title last season, but that relationship has cooled during a more turbulent campaign. Liverpool currently sit sixth in the league, and despite their Champions League success, pressure has begun to build around the Dutchman’s future.
Reports have already linked former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso – recently dismissed as Real Madrid head coach – as a potential successor should results continue to dip.
Slot’s increasingly spiky and defensive tone in media appearances has not gone unnoticed, and Wednesday’s comments risk reinforcing the perception that he is inviting comparisons few managers at Liverpool benefit from making.
With expectations still high and patience thinning, even victories are now being scrutinised, and references to the Klopp era may only intensify that scrutiny.