There’s a weird accusation that gets thrown around any time you’re not clapping like a seal: disloyalty. As if being a Liverpool fan means you’re obligated to back every decision, every performance, every managerial choice, no matter how it looks on the pitch.
Truth is, that’s not support. That’s a vow of silence. I’m loyal to Liverpool, the team, the players wearing the shirt in that moment. But I’m not loyal to an idea that nobody can be criticised, ever. If the club does something embarrassing, they can take the criticism. If the manager sets us up in a way that makes us look miles off it, he can take it too. And when it clicks, when we play well and get results, they’ll get the praise. That’s how standards work.
The Slot question: why keep forcing it?
With Arne Slot, my issue isn’t personal. It’s football. I look at what we were building last season, the parts that made sense, the bits that looked like a team with a plan, and I don’t see that same base now. Instead, I see a system that, in my view, has left players looking out of their depth and has embarrassed the club at times.
What makes it harder to swallow is the sense he keeps doubling down. Football’s full of managers who tweak and adapt, who feel a game turning and make a small correction before it becomes a full-blown problem. When you don’t do that, you’re basically daring the fixture list to prove you right. And it rarely does.
Yes, wins matter. Nobody’s moaning about winning matches. But you can still win and feel uneasy about the direction. You can take the points and also recognise the performance was dross. And if the underlying issues aren’t addressed, it tends to catch up with you sooner or later.
Trent, choices, and the reality of football
On Trent, I don’t really buy into the moral outrage side of things. The myth that the club “made” a player and therefore owns their decisions forever is exactly that: a myth. Liverpool develop players, improve players, give them the stage. But it’s still a career, still a life. If someone wasn’t good enough, they’d be moved on without much ceremony. That’s football too.
So if Trent makes a decision he believes is best for him, I’m not going to pretend I’m shocked that a human being acted like a human being. People do what they think is best for their own interests. Most of the loudest critics would do the same in their own job if the stakes and opportunities matched up.
Praise and criticism can live in the same house
The point isn’t to be negative for the sake of it. It’s to stay honest. Liverpool should be judged by Liverpool standards. When it’s good, say it’s good. When it’s not, don’t dress it up because you’re worried someone online might call you “not a real fan”.
Back the team, demand better from everyone, and keep it moving. That’s not disloyal. That’s the baseline.
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Liverpool News Views offers daily Liverpool coverage including match reaction, transfer analysis, EFL context, tactical breakdowns and opinion-led articles written by supporters for supporters.
