Roy Keane aims brutal two-word dig at Liverpool under Arne Slot
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Roy Keane has taken aim at Liverpool under new head coach Arne Slot, delivering a typically blunt assessment encapsulated in a brutal two-word dig. The former Manchester United captain, renowned for his uncompromising punditry, accused Liverpool of lacking “class” after Slot significantly rotated his side following the securing of the Premier League title. In Keane’s view, fielding what he saw as a “B team” sent the wrong signal to both fringe players and the wider league, especially as Liverpool’s standards visibly dropped once the title was wrapped up.
Keane’s criticism was sharpened by Liverpool’s 3–2 defeat to Brighton, in which a heavily changed team twice surrendered the lead. Senior figures such as Virgil van Dijk were left on the bench, while less-established names like Harvey Elliott, Jarell Quansah, Federico Chiesa and Kostas Tsimikas were drafted in. For Keane, this represented an unnecessary gamble and a departure from the ruthlessly competitive mentality associated with top champions. He argued that winning the league should not be an excuse to “switch off,” and that true elite sides maintain intensity to the very end.
The article sets Keane’s remarks against the broader backdrop of Slot’s early tenure and Liverpool’s evolving identity post-Jürgen Klopp. While Slot has been praised in some quarters for his tactical ideas and calm authority, Keane’s verdict highlights a perception that Liverpool risk becoming complacent at precisely the moment they should be cementing a new era. His comment that Liverpool “have switched off” goes beyond one result, questioning the message being sent to the squad and the club’s rivals.
Ultimately, the piece frames Keane’s two-word jab as part of a familiar pattern: the ex-United captain using sharp soundbites to challenge standards at the very top level. Whether one agrees with him or not, his assessment underlines the pressure on Slot to prove that rotation and long-term planning do not come at the expense of Liverpool’s traditional intensity and competitive edge.