Liverpool are underperforming. Most of us can see it, even if we disagree on the why. But what’s harder to watch is how quickly some have gone from welcoming Arne Slot to acting like he’s the enemy.

That switch, from optimism to outright hostility, isn’t just harsh. It’s a bit of a ghastly look. Not because fans can’t criticise. We should. Because this club has always thrived on standards. But because the mood can turn into something else entirely: a rush to sack the manager, as if football works like a console game where you hit reset and everything improves overnight.

Underperforming doesn’t automatically mean the manager’s finished

There’s a difference between saying, “this isn’t working at the moment” and saying, “get him out.” The first is fair. The second needs a bit more thought than it often gets.

If you think Slot’s got things wrong, talk about what. Is the setup leaving us open in transition? Are we struggling to control games when the tempo drops? Does the press look a yard late? Those are football questions. They’re the ones that actually lead somewhere.

What doesn’t lead anywhere is the idea that a change for the sake of a change will magically sort it. Especially when there’s no clear replacement in mind. That’s not being demanding. It’s being self-destructive.

The away end is usually the truest barometer

I’ve always judged the real temperature by the fans who spend the most and travel the farthest. The ones shelling out ridiculous money to follow Liverpool away in Europe tend to be honest, but they’re rarely fickle. They don’t need to perform outrage for the internet. They just want the team and the manager to get it right.

And if they’re still singing for Slot long after the final whistle, that matters. It doesn’t mean he’s beyond criticism. It means the support is still there, and the bond hasn’t snapped.

Once that away end starts properly turning, that’s when you know it’s gone. If they start jumping off the bus, it’s over. Until then, we’re not in “burn it down” territory, no matter how rough it’s looked at times.

Take the bad with the good, and keep your head

Truth is, being a Liverpool fan isn’t meant to be comfortable all the time. There are spells where it doesn’t click, where the plan looks unclear, where you’re shouting at the telly. That’s part of it. A thicker skin isn’t about accepting mediocrity. It’s about not losing your mind every time the momentum dips.

So by all means, criticise the strategy. Question the tactics. Ask for improvements. But let’s stop treating the manager like he’s disposable the moment things get sticky.

Until the wider support truly collapses, I’m with you: ride at dawn with Slot.

Written by Monstersouness: 4 January 2026

Tags: efl tactics