Kobbie Mainoo highlighted the stark difference between Slot and Carrick after Man United beat Liverpool
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As has been the case for much of this season, questions will be asked of Arne Slot after Liverpool suffered their 11th Premier League defeat of 2025/26 when they travelled to Manchester United.Fans have wanted Slot sacked for a while now, and while they will not get their wish this season, and maybe even until deep into 2026/27, Man Utd did make a change in the dugout and have excelled since.Michael Carrick was appointed as interim manager in January, and since then, the Red Devils have picked up more points than any other side in the top flight. But perhaps just as importantly, he is a manager, as Kobbie Mainoo put it post-match, the players ‘want to die for’.
Which Liverpool player was most to blame for defeat against Manchester United? Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images Liverpool players clearly don’t believe in Arne Slot anymoreMainoo scored the winning goal on the day and, speaking to Sky Sports after the result, issued a glowing verdict of Carrick.The midfielder said: “He’s played a huge part in it, all the confidence he gives all the players.
You want to follow him and fight for him and die for him on the pitch.”A huge statement from the Englishman and, if we are being honest, something you will not see Liverpool players saying about Slot this season.The Dutchman has never been the most outspoken, energetic manager, but the way he has been conducting himself in the media this season has been painful to watch.It has been a season of excuses, bizarre statements and a yearning to play football as they did against PSG last season (which he didn’t do when they met the French side in the Champions League again in 2025/26).Slot has lost the Liverpool fanbase, and if the reaction to the manager behind the scenes is even a fraction like what we are seeing from supporters, it is clear the Dutchman has lost the belief of the players as well.Could you really see this group of players being pumped up by anything Slot says before or during a game? I think not.Instead, for the majority of the campaign, the Reds have looked uninspired, without confidence and lacking any sort of clear leadership.That problem is only going to intensify in the summer when veteran stars Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson leave.Yet, despite a rapid decline and still, with three games of 2025/26 left to play, not a single bit of improvement since August, Liverpool plan to keep Slot.Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox