Arne Slot Sparks Backlash With Jurgen Klopp 'Dig' After Champions League Win

Arne Slot has been criticised on social media after comments made following Liverpool's win over Qarabag FK in the UEFA Champions League.

On Wednesday night, Liverpool secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League by thrashing Azerbaijani side Qarabag at Anfield.

A brace from Alexis Mac Allister, plus goals by Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa, sealed a much-needed 6-0 victory.

As a result, the Reds finished third in the Champions League table behind Bayern Munich and Arsenal.

Looking ahead, Liverpool will face one of Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray in the round of 16.

Speaking after the match, Slot sparked backlash from fans for what he said about Liverpool's qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League.

The Dutchman said: "It is what you want if you start the Champions League season, you want to finish in the top eight, because that helps because you skip a round, and sometimes you can have a really hard team to play against in a round like that, which is shown by the teams we could face.

"So we're happy that we are going straight away to the last 16, especially because it's only two years ago that we were playing Europa League and we went out in the quarter-finals against Atalanta."

Reacting to Slot's comments, some fans felt it was a dig towards Jurgen Klopp.

One fan said: "That's a dig at Klopp."

Another tweeted: "Klopp didn't just build a team, he built the belief. Slot acting like the Atalanta game was the standard of the previous era is pure disrespect."

A third fan added: "Slot clearly belittling Jurgen Klopp now with the Atalanta jibe."

However, a few backed Slot, someone said: "I think i’m the only one who thinks Slot has a point here. That Atalanta game was a particular low point under Klopp and it looked and felt like a big rebuild was needed."

Another fan said: "I love how Slot reminds people of the real, Atalanta wiped the floor with us just two seasons ago with Klopp & nobody said a thing."

Liverpool will return to Premier League action this weekend when they take on Newcastle United at Anfield on Saturday night.