Fans posed for photos on the steps of St George's Hall this afternoon

Arne Slot has caused a stir with his comments on Liverpool's title win last season, with club legend Steven Gerrard hitting back at the Reds' boss amid backlash from supporters

James Findlater Content Editor

20:37, 28 Jan 2026

Steven Gerrard has hit back at Arne Slot's comments(Image: Getty Images)

Steven Gerrard has admitted he can understand why Liverpool fans are frustrated with Arne Slot, calling his recent comments a “body blow” to supporters.

Slot caused controversy in the build-up to the Reds’ final league phase game in the Champions League against Qarabag, with the Liverpool boss having suggested that his side getting knocked out of Europe last season played a big part in the eventual Premier League title win.

“This is not going to be a popular opinion what I’m going to tell you now, but maybe the reason why we won the league last season is that we had to play Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16,” Slot said in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Liverpool 5-0 Qarabag LIVE: Alexis Mac Allister bags a brace as Reds chase record haulREAD MORE: 'I'll be back' - Trent Alexander-Arnold has already confirmed Liverpool return plan

“As you know, they beat us, and we had every time a week to prepare for the next game. Maybe that has helped us as well, maybe if we had to double up that program, which Arsenal had, and they dropped a few points in that period of time, that has helped us in winning the league.”

Slot’s comments have not gone down well with supporters, not least because Liverpool had already been 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League by the time it is was knocked out by PSG last season.

With the Dutchman already coming under pressure for the Reds’ poor league form, club legend Gerrard feels Slot has done himself no favors.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot made some strange comments about his own side's title win(Image: Getty Images)

“Yeah, I can understand the fans being frustrated on the back of that interview,” Gerrard told TNT Sports.

“The simple reason is they were 15 points clear, in my opinion they had the league wrapped up by that point, and to sort of say that helped them is a body blow for the fans really.

“The fans have been on the journey, they've paid good money to follow the team in the Champions League games, so the frustration and the emotion when you go out of the Champions League, a player or a fan, it hurts. Joe and Ally will tell you, it really kills you.

Get LFC's 2025/26 season home and away kits

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

From $100

LFC.com

See the deal

Liverpool's home and away strips for the 2025/26 season are the first in their new partnership with adidas.

Fans can order jerseys in the US at Fanatics.com or via the LFC Online Store in both the US and across the world.

“So to say that went and helped you when you were already 15 points clear, you can understand the fans' frustrations.”

Article continues below

Liverpool will be looking to the Champions League for some respite this season, with the Reds on course to qualify for the last-16 and avoid an extra play-off round.

“It's what the fans are holding onto at the moment,” Gerrard added.

“Of course it would be so important to fight for a top-four finish, but for the fans it's 'let's go for the FA Cup, let's go all the way in the Champions League.'”

Adblock test (Why?)

The ECHO has spoken to a number of Qarabag fans ahead of the club's Champions League match at Anfield

The ECHO has spoken to a number of Qarabag fans ahead of the club's Champions League match at Anfield

Liverpool finish the Champions League group phase with a home clash against Qarabag tonight, looking to seal a place in the last 16. We’re live to bring you the latest.

Tonight’s match blog is run by Henry Jackson, get involved by messaging in the comments below.

Liverpool vs. Qarabag Confirmed Lineups

Liverpool: Alisson; Frimpong, Gravenberch, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike

Substitutes: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Nallo, Kerkez, Endo, Nyoni, Morrison, Chiesa, Ngumoha

Qarabag: Kochalski; Silva, Mustafazade, Medina, Jafarguliyev; Bicalho, Jankovic; Andrade, Montiel, Zoubir; Duran

Substitutes: Ramazanov, Buntic, Mmaee, Kouakou, Akhundzade, Addai, Bolt, Kashchuk, Gurbanli, Bayramov, A.Huseynov, B.Huseynov

Adblock test (Why?)

Jeremie Frimpong has suffered his third injury of the season, picking up a groin problem just two minutes into Liverpool’s game against Qarabag.

Frimpong was clearly devastated as he went off in the second minute due to a groin issue, his third muscle injury of the season.

As he ran back towards his own goal at no great pace, he pulled up and hobbled towards the ball before going down.

As a result, Wataru Endo came on and replaced Frimpong at right-back, a position he hasn’t yet played this season.

At this early stage we don’t yet know how long Frimpong will be out, but an absence of a few weeks would be expected as a minimum for a pulled groin.

It is the second game in a row that the Endo has had to deputise in defence, after he replaced Joe Gomez at centre-half against Bournemouth.

Frimpong’s injury comes at a frustrating time for the Dutch international who has been one of Liverpool’s brightest players in recent weeks.

He has played at right-wing in the absence of Mo Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations and looked good once moved to right-back after Conor Bradley‘s injury.

Who will play at right-back for Liverpool?

The injuries to both Frimpong and Bradley could mean Endo will start more games on the right of the defence, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Calvin Ramsay the only real alternatives.

Szoboszlai has already played right-back regularly this season so is more used to the role than Jones, but the Hungarian’s absence from the midfield is noticeable when he is not there.

Another option could be for Liverpool to dip into the market for a versatile defender who can play at full-back.

However, with just a couple of days left of the window this seems unlikely, especially given Liverpool’s tendency not to buy to fix short-term problems.

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Ramsay has only started one senior match this season, against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup.

He looked good on that occasion, but Slot is clearly not too keen on starting the natural full-back, saying earlier in January: “When someone is really unlucky with the injuries that we’re having there is always a player that benefits from that, and Calvin is one of them.

“He’s with us, but I still think I have better options to play.”

Frimpong‘s injury extends Liverpool’s injury list which now comprises seven players from the first-team squad.

Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are out until the end of the season, while Alexander Isak likely won’t return until late March.

Gomez is out with a knee injury, plus Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajcetic are still recovering from hamstring injuries which should see them back in February.

Jones missed the clash with Qarabag due to illness while Ibrahima Konate remains on compassionate leave.

Adblock test (Why?)

Steven Gerrard sympathises with fans in their anger towards Arne Slot after he claimed Liverpool benefited from losing to PSG in last year’s Champions League.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Qarabag on Wednesday night, Slot argued that defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s Champions League last 16 helped his side win the Premier League.

“They beat us, and we had every time a week to prepare for our next game,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “Maybe that has helped us as well.”

That was met with fury from supporters for a number of reasons, most importantly the fact Liverpool were already 16 points clear in the league by that point.

Gerrard was in the TNT Sports studio ahead of the 8pm kickoff against Qarabag and was asked how he felt about Slot’s comments.

Steven Gerrard addresses Arne Slot's comments and Liverpool fans' frustration.

? @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK | @laura_woodsy pic.twitter.com/tBGKl2NFyt

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 28, 2026

“I can understand the fans being frustrated on the back of that interview,” the legendary midfielder admitted.

“For the simple reason that they were 16 points clear.

“In my opinion they had the league wrapped up by that point and to sort of say that helped them is a body blow for the fans really.

“The fans have been on the journey, they’ve paid good money to follow the team in the Champions League games.

“So the frustration and the emotion when you go out of the Champions League, as a player or a fan, it hurts. Going out of Europe, it kills you.

“So to sort of say that that went and helped you when you were already 16 points clear, you can understand the frustrations.”

[embedded content]

[embedded content]

While Gerrard has continued to back Slot in his position as Liverpool head coach it is clear that the Dutchman’s media work is beginning to grate on the former captain too.

After all it was only a week ago, during TNT Sports’ coverage of the 3-0 win over Marseille, that the 45-year-old urged Slot to “stop talking about low blocks.”

While he appeared to take Gerrard’s advice on that front, Slot has doubled down on his focus on PSG along with repeatedly stressing that Liverpool have won two titles in 30 years.

It is this approach in the media, coupled with Liverpool’s tragic defence of the Premier League title, that has most angered those who have followed the club game in, game out for decades – rather than simply since their job in the dugout began.

Why Steven Gerrard doesn’t think Liverpool will sack Arne Slot

Gerrard was later asked if he felt Slot was under pressure and he agreed, though he argued that this was “more external than internal.”

“I think he is under pressure, for sure. I think there are large sections of the Liverpool fans that are very frustrated. Some have had enough,” he explained.

“I think his pressure is more external, media and supporters, that are not happy with the form Liverpool are in from a league point of view.

“I think internally it will be different.

“Liverpool have got extremely strong owners, fantastic owners, I think they’d want to give the manager on the back of last season – and any manager for that point – as much support [as they can].

“They’d want to be extremely strong for Arne Slot during this tough time and try to give him the opportunity to get the team out of it and fix the issues that they’ve got.

“Also knowing Richard Hughes a little bit and Michael Edwards a bit more, I think they would want to be strong and rally around the manager.

“I think that’s what Liverpool have done historically, they’re not really a club that makes a lot of changes. So I think the pressure’s more external than internal.”

Adblock test (Why?)

Liverpool have made two changes to the Starting XI ahead of their Champions League match with Qarabag. Hugo Ekitike starts up top and Andy Robertson comes in in place of Milos Kerkez

Liverpool Confirmed Starting XI

Starters: Alisson, Van Dijk, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, MacAllister, Salah, Gakpo, Ekitake, Robertson, Frimpong, Gravenberch

Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Endo, Kerkez, Chiesa, Nyoni, Nallo, Morrison, Ngumoha

Qarabag Confirmed Lineup

Starters: Kochalski, Silva, Mustafazade, Medina, Jafarguliyev, Pedro Vicalho, Jankovic, Leandro, Andrade, Montiel, Zoubir, Duran

Where To Watch Match InfoUK BroadcastUS BroadcastCanada BroadcastKick-off8:00 PM GMT 8:00  PM ET 8:00 PM ETTV ChannelTNT SportsTUDN (Spanish Broadcast)FuboTVLive StreamDiscovery +Paramount+FuboTV Canada LFC Globe Verdict 

Arne Slot has put together his best lineup considering the injuries and defensive crisis the club is in. plus he has switched back to a 4-2-3-1 after the loss vs Bournemouth.  These changes should see the Reds safely through to the Round of 16.

Adblock test (Why?)

Team news confirmed from Anfield as Liverpool go in search of the Champions League knockout stages against Qarabag

Team news confirmed from Anfield as Liverpool go in search of the Champions League knockout stages against Qarabag

Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold has been informed he will struggle to get into England's World Cup squad

Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold has been informed he will struggle to get into England's World Cup squad

The ECHO spoke to the Qarabag fans who have travelled 2,000 miles to Liverpool about the importance of their club to Azerbaijan and why the occasion at Anfield is so special

The ECHO spoke to the Qarabag fans who have travelled 2,000 miles to Liverpool about the importance of their club to Azerbaijan and why the occasion at Anfield is so special

It's been an uneventful January transfer window for Liverpool but it could still heat up with just four days remaining

It's been an uneventful January transfer window for Liverpool but it could still heat up with just four days remaining

Liverpool take on Azerbaijani side Qarabag for the very first time on final night of the league phase of this season's Champions League

Liverpool take on Azerbaijani side Qarabag for the very first time on final night of the league phase of this season's Champions League

Harvey Elliott has made just three league appearances for Aston Villa since leaving Liverpool in the summer

Harvey Elliott has made just three league appearances for Aston Villa since leaving Liverpool in the summer