Stephen Warnock believes Arne Slot must challenge for the Premier League title next season if he wants to avoid serious pressure at Liverpool.
The Dutchman is facing growing scrutiny after a deeply disappointing campaign which has seen the Reds limp towards the finish line despite still being favourites to secure Champions League football.
Speaking exclusively to Empire of the Kop on behalf of BetWright who provide Premier League Odds, the former Liverpool defender admitted qualification for Europe’s elite competition alone will not satisfy supporters after the standards set in previous years.
Warnock said: “Interestingly, you would have thought if you just said Champions League football is enough, well, it looks like you’ll secure Champions League football this season and that doesn’t seem to be enough for what the Anfield crowd wants and what the fanbase wants.”
The ex-Red then added: “You’ve got to challenge for the league.”
Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea only intensified frustrations around Anfield after another passive performance in front of the home crowd.
Wayne Rooney claimed there had been “worrying signs” throughout the campaign, while Jermaine Pennant also questioned whether Slot’s style of football is good enough for Liverpool long term.
Warnock, though, did acknowledge the difficulties surrounding the campaign, particularly after the devastating situation involving Diogo Jota.
The 44-year-old explained: “He has had an awful lot of overhaul in the squad.”
He continued: “I think you’ve got to give him the grace of the situation around Diogo Jota. We don’t know how difficult that’s been for the squad and for him to handle himself as a manager.”
Perhaps the most concerning part for Slot will be Warnock’s comments regarding the growing disconnect between the supporters and the football being played.
The former Blackburn full-back said: “If he’s not challenging for the league, he’ll come under pressure.”
Warnock then added: “I also think the style of football needs to change a little bit.”
That feeling is becoming increasingly obvious around Anfield after several flat displays in recent weeks.
“If you want the Anfield crowd to get behind you, give them something, and at the moment that style of football is not giving the crowd anything to believe in.”
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Being content with just champions league football should never be good enough for Liverpool football club, especially after spending 450 million last summer. Liverpool football club was built on winning trophies. FSG are content with charlatan league because they’ll make another 100 million next year.
At the moment under slot we have no chance whatsoever of winning trophies. We wouldn’t win the Europa league or conference league. We are now a shadow of what we were under klopp. Not competitive against the big clubs anymore. Slot should have been sacked last December.
He would have been if we didn’t have clueless owners.
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