Liverpool, Slot and rumours that refuse to go away

Liverpool’s goalless draw with Arsenal should have felt like a small act of resistance. Away from home, against the league leaders, with confidence fragile and options limited, a 0-0 can represent something solid. Instead, it landed awkwardly, part encouragement, part reminder of how far this side remains from the title conversation.

Arne Slot watched his team wobble badly in the first half, to the point where frustration spilled over from the stands. The response after the interval was calmer and more controlled, with Liverpool enjoying longer spells of possession and slowing Arsenal’s rhythm. A point was earned, but it did little to change the wider picture. The gap at the top remains daunting, even if a Champions League place is still achievable.

Arsenal draw changes mood, not reality

There was a subtle shift in tone after the final whistle. The noise softened, the anger dulled, replaced by something closer to weary acceptance. Slot himself admitted the performance followed a familiar pattern, steady but limited, competitive without menace.

Liverpool did not make a single substitution, a detail that lingered long after the final whistle. It spoke less about tactical stubbornness and more about a lack of trust in what waited on the bench. Arsenal, by contrast, could rotate and refresh, underlining the growing disparity in depth.

Slot, Hughes and rumours from the top

Into this fragile calm stepped Gary Lineker, speaking on The Rest Is Football, and offering a rumour that has travelled quickly.

He said: “You know, the people up in the top want to make the decisions. We saw that obviously with Maresca. We’ve seen that now with Amorim.

“Very strong rumours around Liverpool at the moment. There’s a bit of a fallout between Arne Slot and I think it’s Richard Hughes running the operations there.

“People want their say on team matters and etc etc.”

Whether there is substance behind it remains unclear. Liverpool have been here before, a club where power dynamics behind the scenes often matter as much as results on the pitch. Even so, the timing feels significant, arriving just as patience begins to thin.

January window leaves Slot exposed

What feels less debatable is the reality of January. Liverpool are expected to remain quiet, despite injuries stripping Slot of already limited options. Conor Bradley’s absence has sharpened the focus on defensive cover.

Rumours may fade, but the evidence on the pitch is harder to ignore. Slot needs support, quickly, or the season risks becoming an exercise in managing decline rather than building momentum.