I’ve dipped back into the usual online Liverpool chat after a few days away and, honestly, the tone has thrown me. People talking like they’re done watching games, or pinning their hopes on other clubs losing so a manager they like might become available. That’s not analysis, that’s just looking for a lifeboat.

There’s always been a bit of “yeah, but…” about us as a fanbase. It comes from standards, and I get it. Liverpool isn’t built to clap along politely while things drift. But there’s a line between demanding more and acting like every bump in the road means the whole project is finished.

Winning ugly still counts

One of the most telling things in football is how people talk after a defeat. You’ll hear: “We were the better team.” Sometimes it’s true. Sometimes it’s comfort. Either way, it doesn’t change the table.

So if the options on a given day are: scrape a win when the game gets weird, or play nicely and still lose, I know what I’m taking. Every single time. Nobody hands out medals for “most deserving in open play”. The best sides learn how to get over the line when the rhythm isn’t there.

And to be fair, that’s part of what stopping the rot looks like. Not perfection. Not dominance every week. Just finding a way when it’s scrappy, tense, or the match state goes against what you wanted.

Ups and downs are normal, even for good teams

There’s a weird rewriting of history that happens when we talk about Klopp’s early years, like it was a smooth build with neat little steps. It wasn’t. It was chaos at times. Brilliant one week, head-in-hands the next. Loads of promise, loads of frustration, and plenty of moments where you thought: are we actually going anywhere?

That’s football. Especially when you’re trying to move from “decent” to “properly consistent”. You don’t get there by declaring the whole thing broken every time you hit a rough patch.

Back Arne Slot, keep your standards

Arne Slot isn’t going to be judged on vibes, or on whether rivals drop points, or on fantasy scenarios about who might be available one day. He’ll be judged on building a Liverpool that wins often, handles pressure, and keeps improving.

We’re not where we want to be, clearly. But it’s allowed to be a process. The truth is, supporting Liverpool is meant to feel like something. Frustration comes with it, but so does the enjoyment. For me, the healthier move is simple: watch it, live it, and judge the direction without throwing your toys out the pram.

Written by Faithinworks: 24 December 2025

Tags: efl