Slot’s post-match remarks reopen discussion about Klopp’s final seasons at Liverpool
Liverpool’s emphatic Champions League win over Qarabag FK ensured safe passage into the knockout rounds, but it was head coach Arne Slot’s post-match reflections rather than the scoreline that sparked discussion among supporters online.
Slot’s comments, which referenced Liverpool’s recent European past, were interpreted by some fans as an implicit comparison with the Jurgen Klopp era, reopening a familiar debate about standards, decline and renewal at Anfield.
Dominant night in Europe
Liverpool confirmed their place in the Champions League last 16 with a 6–0 victory on Wednesday night. Alexis Mac Allister scored twice, while Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa added further goals in a one-sided contest.
The result secured a third-place finish in the league phase, behind Bayern Munich and Arsenal, allowing Liverpool to skip the playoff round and advance directly to the knockout stage. Their possible last-16 opponents include Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray.
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Slot highlights progress
Speaking after the match, Slot explained why finishing in the top eight was significant from a competitive standpoint.
He said:
"It is what you want if you start the Champions League season, you want to finish in the top eight, because that helps 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 we could face.
"So we're 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."
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The reference to Liverpool’s Europa League exit in 2024 during Klopp’s final seasons at the club quickly became a focal point for fan reaction.
Fans split over meaning of comments
A section of supporters on social media felt the remarks amounted to a subtle criticism of Klopp’s tenure. One fan wrote: "That's a dig at Klopp."
Another commented: "Klopp didn't just build a team, he built the belief. Slot acting like the Atalanta game was the standard of the previous era is pure disrespect."
A third added: "Slot clearly belittling Jurgen Klopp now with the Atalanta jibe."
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Others pushed back against that interpretation, arguing Slot was simply acknowledging how far the team has come. One supporter wrote: "I think I’m the only one who thinks Slot has a point here. That Atalanta game was a particular low point under Klopp and it looked and felt like a big rebuild was needed."
Another added: "I love how Slot reminds people of the real Atalanta wiped the floor with us just two seasons ago with Klopp & nobody said a thing."
Focus shifts back to domestic action
With European qualification secured, Liverpool now turn their attention back to the Premier League, hosting Newcastle United at Anfield on Saturday night.
Sources: Match reporting, post-match interviews, social media posts.
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