After boos rang out at Anfield following Liverpool’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, speculation has grown surrounding the future of head coach Arne Slot, who led the Reds to their 20th league title last year.
While Slot appears to retain the backing of the ownership, pundits have had their say after the draw with the Premier League’s most out-of-form side left his team two points outside the top four.
Jamie Carragher said there was a “big shift” in the Anfield crowd’s attitude towards their manager at the weekend.
Talking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, the Liverpool great said: “The booing at the end, that was proper booing. That was a really unhappy and disgruntled fanbase and I think it is going to be very difficult to get them back.
“Once you lose that crowd, it is very difficult.”
After Manchester United beat Aston Villa earlier on in the day, a win for the Reds would’ve seen them return to the top four. Instead, another poor result has put their hopes of Champions League qualification in further jeopardy.
Former Everton and Man United striker Wayne Rooney said on his BBC show: "I don’t know what the board’s objectives were at the start of the season, but obviously as champions, he [Slot] would be expected to finish in the Champions League spots.
"I think there will be conversations if he doesn’t and see what happens from there. Liverpool have been inconsistent this season. There have been many new signings, but other players are not playing as well as in previous seasons.”
The Reds face Galatasaray at Anfield in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie tomorrow (Wednesday), looking to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit.
After Saturday's Premier League trip to Brighton & Hove Albion, they have a FA Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester City at the Etihad after the international break.
And Kop legend Robbie Fowler thinks winning a trophy this season is a necessity for the defending Premier League champions.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, he said: “The problem with them winning the league last year is that everyone's expectations are going to rise and if you're not challenging, expectations are going to drop.
“It's a must they get into the Champions League. But I think they have genuinely got to win a competition.
“We'll be stood here towards the end of the season and if they haven't got any of them, questions will be asked about the manager again.”
Fowler also believes that the Spurs match stands as a missed opportunity for Liverpool.
“They had a good chance to put a bit of a stamp on their own season, get into that top four and stay there,” he explained. “But, again, they have faltered.”
After winning the league last term and spending north of £400m the following summer, it’s fair to say Liverpool’s title defence hasn’t gone to plan.
And Roy Keane claimed Slot gave his players too much downtime after securing the title with four games to spare.
Speaking after the Tottenham match, the ex-Man United captain said: "They were partying with four weeks to go, there were celebrations after every league game. It is Liverpool Football Club, are you not expected to win league titles? When you do, enjoy it but back it up next year.
“They've been bad champions. To be 21 points behind Arsenal, what a drop off that is. So I think there are issues going on.
“I don't think they are on the same page, there doesn't seem to be the same chemistry with the players.”
