Arne Slot's behaviour after Liverpool's final Premier League match of the season has divided opinion among supporters. The Reds were held to a 1-1 draw by Brentford at Anfield on Sunday, a result that secured fifth place and Champions League qualification.
Match Overview
Curtis Jones scored for Liverpool, while Kevin Schade equalised for the Bees. The point was enough for the home side to finish fifth and secure a spot in next season's Champions League.
Slot's Future Under Scrutiny
Slot's future at Liverpool has been the subject of speculation throughout the season following the club's early exits from cup competitions and failure to challenge for the Premier League title after last season's triumph.
Sunday also saw Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson play their final matches for Liverpool, with both receiving warm receptions from the Anfield crowd before, during and after the game.
Lap of Honour Controversy
After the final whistle, Liverpool players conducted a lap of the pitch to thank the home fans for their support. However, Slot appeared to go to the dugout and sit on the bench instead of joining them.
This led to a split opinion among fans on social media. One fan said: 'I mean almost every Liverpool fan doesn't believe in the process, so what do you want him to do?' Another added: 'This was a tough situation and I feel for him, almost scared of how the crowd will react. However, he is the Liverpool manager and needs to be better & stronger. I can't see how he continues next season without being compromised from the start.'
A third fan wrote: 'Think about it, we currently have a manager that can't even do a lap to thank the fans much less pick up a microphone and say some words at the end of the season because he would probably get booed. That is the state of things.'
Defence of Slot
Some fans defended Slot, offering explanations for his behaviour. One fan said: 'He's letting the players, particularly the ones leaving, to rightly have the limelight.' Another wrote: 'I'd like to think he just didn't want to draw negative attention by him being there and detract from others' farewells.'
A third supporter commented: 'Wise move. Letting it be about others, not him.' Another added: 'To be honest he looks tired, it's been a long season, one with a lot of pain.'
Liverpool are not back in action until pre-season this summer, which will see them travel to the United States for friendly matches against Sunderland, Leeds United and Wrexham.
