Steven Gerrard hits back at Arne Slot's 'unpopular' Liverpool title claim amid fan backlash

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

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.

“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.

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

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.'”