Klopp detailed text he sent to club chiefs after apology for state of affairs

A former Liverpool manager received an apology from the club's hierarchy due to the state of affairs he walked into at the time

Arne Slot is having a hard time at Liverpool right now, and Jurgen Klopp will understand the pressure better than most. That's because the German once received an apology from the club's American owners over the poor state of the squad he'd inherited.

The situation was so dire when Klopp arrived at Anfield that Fenway Sports Group felt compelled to say sorry for the team they'd handed him. But the German boss remained calm, simply telling his employers that all he required was patience.

Slot, however, finds himself in a rather different position after splashing out roughly £450million during the summer transfer window. This means he has far fewer excuses to lean on as Liverpool's form continues to nosedive.

The Reds are in freefall across all competitions, having suffered defeat in nine of their past 12 matches. Their latest setbacks saw them hammered 3-0 by Nottingham Forest and 4-1 by PSV.

This alarming slump has left Slot facing mounting pressure from supporters and the club's hierarchy to reverse the decline - or potentially face the sack. Though, as Klopp once disclosed when FSG apologised to him, the board does show understanding.

Speaking in 2021, Klopp said: "At the beginning, I received a message from the US saying, 'Sorry for the squad we've given you.' But all was good I replied, it just needs time. There is a very strong tie to the owners, they support a lot. I just want to win football matches, to be honest."

Klopp has previously clinched both the Premier League and Champions League titles, marking his reign with significant victories. Slot, on the other hand, managed to secure the Premier League title in his first attempt but is currently struggling to maintain a steady performance this season.

This comes despite a hefty summer spending spree, which included a whopping £125m splurge on Alexander Isak. Isak, along with Florian Wirtz, have yet to make their mark in the league this season, failing to live up to fan expectations.

Slot's surprise at Liverpool's current form mirrors that of many others. Following the defeat to PSV, the Dutchman said: "I think it is a shock for everyone. For the players, for the journalists in here, for me, for everyone.

"This is a shock and it's very, very, very unexpected if you look at the quality we have. Is it a lack of confidence? I didn't see that in the first half.

"Of course, it is hard if after losing 3-0, straight into this game you concede a goal. I saw the mentality these players have shown so many times since I am here, came back in a way you would like to come back, created chances, we kept them in their half – and after another setback by conceding the 2-1, I also saw us creating chances again to score the 2-2.

"But, in the end of the game, I did see it affected maybe one or two players that we were 3-1 and 4-1 down, that's true." When probed about whether he thought it was fair for his future to be under such scrutiny, Slot added: "I don't think it's important if it is fair or not. But that it's normal, that I understand.

"If any manager around the world loses football games, let alone as many as we have lost, it's quite normal that people have an opinion about that and if that is fair or not fair, that's for other people to judge. But that it's normal, I think it is that if you lose so many times that people start talking about that."