Gary Neville has been a prominent face and figure in the world of football punditry, and is no stranger to sparking debates. The ex Red Devil’s player turned pundit has also shown no attempt to hide his allegiances to Manchester United.
However Neville’s recent comments about Liverpool’s appointment of Slot and how they went about it have come under fire and stirred some controversy.
In a somewhat heated exchange with Liverpool legend turned pundit Jamie Carragher, Neville claimed that Liverpool’s appointment of Slot came only after their top choices, including Xabi Alonso, didn’t pan out.
“Liverpool couldn’t find manager first, second, or third (choice),” Neville remarked, alleging that Slot was merely a fallback option after the club’s primary targets, like Alonso and Ruben Amorim, were unattainable.
“Well they didn’t want Arne Slot probably,” Neville continued challenging Carragher who believes otherwise.
Unfortunately for Neville, Paul Joyce made sure these assertions didn’t go unchecked.
Paul Joyce, The Times’ northern football correspondent and a trusted source for Liverpool-related news, provided a strong counter-narrative.
Joyce, who has built a close relationship with Liverpool and its fanbase, contradicted Neville’s claims, asserting that Liverpool had identified Slot as their preferred successor to Klopp from the outset.
“The reality is that Slot was the only coach to whom Richard Hughes, director of football, offered the job, regardless of what Gary Neville may suggest he knew” Joyce said.
Joyce also spoke about Xabi Alonso being eyed up as an option, “Liverpool’s inquiries meant they already knew Alonso was not considering changing clubs for at least another season.”
These details from Joyce paint a contrasting picture and it is reported that this misinformation from Neville prompted Liverpool to go as far as asking him to publicly retract his statement and apologize, fans believe Liverpool should have gone through with this.
Slot, who previously managed Feyenoord, has since stepped into Klopp’s shoes with remarkable success, steering Liverpool through a transitional phase. Under his leadership, Liverpool now sits at the top of the Premier League, 2 points clear of rivals Man City in second.
This controversy over Slot’s appointment has raised questions about Neville’s credibility when discussing rival clubs.
While he is widely respected for his insights on Manchester United and English football, his biases often come to light when the conversation turns to Liverpool.
The incident has left Liverpool fans questioning if Neville’s statements on their club should be taken seriously or should news regarding rival clubs from him always be taken with a pinch of salt.
Many feel his deep-rooted allegiance to United skews his perspective, making him prone to underplaying rival clubs’ achievements and work or even, as in this case, misrepresenting them.
While Neville remains a respected voice in football, this latest episode highlights the potential pitfalls of mixing allegiances with analysis.
For Liverpool, amidst this unnecessary managerial saga, ironically, Xabi Alonso makes a return midweek to Anfield with his Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.
Slot has not only proven to be a sound choice but also a sign of the club’s confidence in their decision-making. And as Liverpool continues to flourish under Slot, the narrative may serve as a reminder to take Neville’s words with a pinch of salt when they concern a club other than his beloved United.