Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has forcefully responded to accusations from Manchester United supporters that he has shown bias in his coverage of under-pressure Reds manager Arne Slot.
Liverpool's Crisis Deepens with Forest Defeat
The context for the online spat is Liverpool's dramatic slump in form under their new manager. The situation reached a new low on Saturday with a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield. This result marks Liverpool's sixth league loss of the season, leaving them languishing in 11th place in the Premier League table and a staggering 11 points behind early leaders Arsenal.
This rotten run of form has seen the pressure on Arne Slot intensify significantly, with the defence of the club's Premier League title already in tatters. The crisis has sparked intense debate among fans and pundits alike about the Dutchman's future at the club.
Carragher's Firm Response to Fan Allegations
Amid the turmoil, some online commentators have pointed a finger at Sky Sports analysts Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville. They have accused the pair of not subjecting Slot to the same rigorous questioning they previously directed at former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag.
One fan highlighted this perceived disparity by sharing an image of Carragher and Neville's past interview with Ten Hag, directly asking the pundits on social media: "When are you two going to sit down with Arne Slot for a proper chat like this."
Carragher was swift to reply, offering a clear explanation for the difference. He clarified that the much-discussed interview with Ten Hag was not a Sky Sports initiative but was organised by the Manchester United press office in an attempt to help the manager after a poor start.
"When Liverpool ask us!" Carragher stated. "This interview was set up by the Man Utd press office not Sky Sports!! ETH's first two games had gone horribly wrong so the idea was to help him by speaking to us about football. We asked tough questions so it didn't look like what it was, a set up!!"
Pressure Mounts from Fellow Pundits
Fans are not the only ones to have noticed a potential difference in treatment. Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has also weighed in, suggesting that Carragher and Neville have been softer on Slot compared to their approach with other managers like Sporting's Ruben Amorim.
Speaking on his own podcast, Ferdinand said he would be messaging his fellow pundits. "They had Amorim straightaway [about the formation not working] when he weren't winning a few games," Ferdinand noted. "I'd like to see the same energy for Arne Slot right now please. It's the worst start Liverpool have had to a season since Brendan Rodgers was sacked."
All eyes are now on Liverpool's next fixtures as Slot desperately seeks to turn the tide. The Reds face a Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven followed by a Premier League trip to West Ham United at the London Stadium.
