Winning’s Fine, But Slot Wants More Too

There’s a strange little argument that keeps popping up around Liverpool whenever results are decent but the football feels a touch sticky. One side says, “We’re winning, stop moaning.” The other says, “This isn’t good enough.” Truth is, most of us are somewhere in the middle, and it’s a bit tiresome pretending anyone’s genuinely satisfied with the lot just because three points go on the board.

Nobody sensible thinks this is the best version of Liverpool under Arne Slot. Not the fans, and certainly not Slot himself. So when the debate turns into swiping at imaginary people who are supposedly declaring everything perfect, it starts to feel like shadowboxing. You can criticise what you’re seeing without making out that everyone else is asleep at the wheel.

Stop arguing with scarecrows

It’s easy to spiral into that forum-mode mindset where you’re convinced the room is calling you “negative” or “irrational” for pointing out what’s in front of your eyes. But most Liverpool supporters can hold two thoughts at once: the results matter, and the performance level still needs lifting. That isn’t fence-sitting, it’s just watching football properly.

There’s also a difference between patience and complacency. Patience is recognising a team can win while still ironing things out. Complacency would be pretending every scrappy spell is a “new normal” we should just accept. I don’t see many Reds doing that, to be fair.

Slot isn’t chest-beating about it

One of the most encouraging things so far is that Slot hasn’t acted like a manager who thinks he’s cracked the code because the scoreboard is kind. He hasn’t gone into “everyone shut up” mode. If anything, he’s been pretty clear that he wants more from the performances, even when the points are arriving.

That matters because it sets the tone. It tells the squad the standard is higher than simply getting over the line. It also tells supporters that the manager’s eyes are working: he can see the same loose touches, the same rushed decisions, the same spells where the tempo drops and we don’t quite control the game how we’d like.

Fitness and bedding in are real things

Slot’s other point is the one that should keep everyone grounded: players do get sharper as the weeks roll on, and new ideas do take time to settle. “Fitter game by game” isn’t just a throwaway line, it’s often the difference between a press that bites and one that gets played through. And when a few lads start to bed in, the whole side looks more like itself.

So yes, ask for better. Demand higher levels. But don’t waste energy pretending there’s a crowd of Reds celebrating mediocrity. The manager isn’t. And most of us aren’t either.

Written by PatrikBurgher: 4 January 2026