Arne Slot's comments continue to frustrate Liverpool fans with the Dutchman now claiming that a last 16 Champions League appearance is a sign of progress given their recent Europa League campaign
Arne Slot claimed that Liverpool progressing into the knockout stages of the Champions League is a big achievement - and then referenced their shock loss to Atalanta two years ago as proof of their rise as fans were again angered by his comments.
The Dutchman saw his side make light work of Qarabag, hitting six past the European minnows at Anfield, which secured the Reds third spot in the league phase of the competition. He was keen to underline it as a major achievement, and chose to hammer that home by recalling their Europa League shortcomings in Jurgen Klopp's final year at the helm.
After a poor year Liverpool were in Europe's secondary competition, not something they were accustomed to, but they couldn't take advantage and were dumped out by the Italian side. A 3-0 loss in the first-leg on their own patch was something they couldn't recover from as they went out.
Slot using it was a reference point was somewhat surprising, given Liverpool's usual landing spot was the Champions League. They made the knockouts in seven of their nine full seasons under the German - with their year in the Europa League being an outlier.
Nevertheless he said: "We are happy that we are going straight away to the last 16, especially because it's only two years ago that we were playing Europa League and we went out in the quarter-finals against Atalanta.
"So, two seasons in a row now being in the last 16, and last season we were very hungry for more and we will definitely be hungry for more this season as well."
But fans were left unhappy at what they believe is a put down from their own manager. One said: "Every single time he speaks he's trying to lower our standards. I remember us reaching three CL finals in five seasons." Another added: "This guy loves taking digs at the club, you wonder why most fans have moved on from him."
That narrative continued with another claiming: "Now he’s just disrespecting Klopp with quotes like this. The man who gave him the best welcome he could have received and built him a team to win the league."
Slot has been keen to emphasise the achievements he's presided over, especially when quizzed on any sense of pressure or needing to prove himself, but in an effort to defend himself has not endeared himself to fans.
He won the Premier League in his first season but, after some heavy investment, has seen the team drop off massively. The former Feyenoord boss recently claimed he had little to prove given what he won in his first season as he suggested fans need to temper their expectations given they've only won two league titles in three decades.