2 months ago
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Arne Slot is coming under mounting pressure at Liverpool, with critics highlighting his apparent lack of support for the young players once nurtured by Jurgen Klopp.
Slot is under ever-mounting pressure at Anfield - especially after his side threw away the lead twice against Leeds, with his press conference remarks growing more puzzling by the week. Once the composed figure who began his Liverpool tenure so confidently, he now appears a long way from that assured start, leaving supporters rapidly losing faith in his leadership.
Perhaps nothing sums up the ever-changing landscape at Anfield like the decisions made on some of Klopp's favorite youth players. Following the 2023 season that showcased the very best of Liverpool’s academy which was highlighted by the Carabao Cup triumph, circumstances shifted dramatically the following summer.
Several players have seen their opportunities limited or mishandled in ways that raise questions about the manager’s man-management. Bobby Clark was sold for $13 million to Red Bull Salzburg in 2024 without being given a genuine chance to prove himself, while Lewis Koumas and James McConnell were sent out on loan under similar circumstances, never truly getting a look-in at first-team level.
Jayden Danns has been plagued by injuries but was barely given the chance to establish himself when fit, and Trey Nyoni has been severely underused despite showing promise.
Trent Alexander-Arnold actively sought a move away from the club, while Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah were reportedly treated poorly, effectively being forced out.
Quansah, for example, played just 45 minutes against Ipswich before Slot reportedly decided he didn’t fit into his plans, while Ibrahima Konate continues to receive repeated opportunities despite inconsistent performances.
Rio Ngumoha's usage has also been criticized, further underlining growing concerns over Slot’s man-management abilities
Soon after Slot joined Liverpool, he defended what was dubbed a "culling" of Klopp's kids. “That’s always a difficult one, because young players want to play as well and if they want to develop they have to play,” he explained in 2024.
“It’s always like this. They come through the ranks of the youth academy and either then you’re good enough to play for us many minutes or you’re still not there, or there’s too much competition in your position.
“I think still this team, with what we have, has a lot of homegrown players. One of them, Trey Nyoni, is also training with us on a daily basis at only 17. So this club will always bring good youngsters. It’s always a challenge to find the right moment, either to play them or if they’ve played quite a lot of minutes they want to make the next step in their career.
“And if that is not possible because Virgil van Dijk is playing there, or Mo Salah is playing there, or all the other top players are playing here, then it’s best for them and also for the club to let them go. Because you always want to take care of your own interest, but you also have a responsibility to the players.
“If they want to play somewhere and it’s not possible with us, and they’re not happy with 500 or 600 minutes – because these youngsters didn’t play many Premier League games, they played a few games in the cup – then you have to, in my opinion, let them develop somewhere else.”
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