National media react to Liverpool defeat at Aston Villa as Arne Slot future 'intolerable'
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A look at how the national media reflected Liverpool's 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa on Friday nightLiverpool slumped to their 12th Premier League defeat of the campaign as Aston Villa deservedly won 4-2 at Villa Park on Friday night.Two goals from Virgil van Dijk were nothing more than consolations for the visitors as Ollie Watkins scored a brace either side of efforts from Morgan Rogers and John McGinn.The ECHO, as ever, was at Villa Park to run the rule over proceedings and you can see all our match-day content here: Big-match verdict; player ratings; post-game analysis; Arne Slot's reaction; the thoughts of Joe Gomez; how it all unfolded live.Our colleagues from the national media were also present to give their own considered takes. Here's what they made of another Liverpool defeat under Slot.READ MORE: Jamie Carragher left raging by 'embarrassing' Liverpool star during Aston Villa clashPaul Joyce, writing in The Times, reflects: "They were insipid, a shambles out of possession once more, but, hey, according to the head coach Arne Slot they are a few tweaks over the summer away from being the football team their fans will fall back in love with."That will be quite the redemption story with many having headed back up the M6 before the end.
The Dutchman’s annus horribilis continues and Liverpool’s own hopes of sitting at Europe’s top table next term will drag on into the final week."Liverpool had arrived looking ramshackled. Extricating himself from the position he is currently in will be an act to rival Houdini."The Mirror's Samuel Meade writes: "For all they've recovered from their midseason slump, which saw them lose nine in 12, to look like they should secure a Champions League spot, actually watching Liverpool perform leaves you with plenty of questions.
Their impact on the league table will be stark, the opportunity exists for them to land European qualification, but also hand Arsenal the Premier League title."Lewis Steele, of the Daily Mail, mused: "The main word on the lips of the Holte End at full-time was ‘Istanbul’ as Aston Villa fans sang about their upcoming jaunt to the Turkish metropolis for next week’s Europa League final."As for Arne Slot, who cut a forlorn figure on the touchline and looked like a broken man, well, he needs a miracle akin to the one Liverpool conjured up in Istanbul all those years ago if he is to come back from his current position as a man the fanbase have decided is not the one."Like Liverpool at half-time in that fabled final of 2005, where the Reds were 3-0 down but came back to win, Slot looks down and out."His team still have Champions League qualification in their hands but two daring teams on the south coast, Bournemouth and Brighton, will fancy their chances of doing the unthinkable and leapfrogging the reigning Premier League kings into that final spot at Europe’s top table."Though Unai Emery’s men had an era-defining final to look forward to on Wednesday, they were the team that seemed to want this victory more. The club holds the same belief – but how long can that last?"And in the ECHO's verdict: "The post-match airing of the Champions League anthem, to confirm Aston Villa's place next season, will have felt like insult to injury for a Liverpool side well beaten here."These are halcyon days in this part of Birmingham.