Fans believe Arne Slot showed a special Champions League sign to Man Utd fans at the end of the game.
Did Arne Slot make a quiet nod to Liverpool’s European success before heading down the Old Trafford tunnel on Sunday? Some fans definitely think so.
It was another tough day for Liverpool, who have now lost 18 games this season. Kobbie Mainoo’s late winning goal secured Manchester United’s place in next season’s Champions League.
With just three games left, the Reds are 26 points behind where they were last year—a drop captain Virgil van Dijk called “unacceptable.”
“I’m not here to make excuses,” Van Dijk said after the match. “It’s been a very disappointing season, an unacceptable season, and it’s tough. We shouldn’t feel sorry for ourselves at all.”
Even usually calm Arne Slot looked frustrated on the sidelines. In fact, some think the Dutch coach gave a subtle shout-out to Manchester United supporters after the game.
In video footage, Slot is seen holding up six fingers before walking down the tunnel—a sign many linked to Liverpool’s six European Cup wins.
Liverpool has the most European Cups of any British team, winning in 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005, and 2019.
It might just have been a quick, unconscious move from Slot, but some fans feel it was his way of replying to the tough welcome he got from the Stretford End crowd.
Here’s what fans said online about it:
One wrote: “Arne Slot showing Manchester United fans how many Champions Leagues Liverpool have won.” Another commented: “I take it all back. Give him a new contract.”
A third said: “And he wasn’t part of any of those wins,” while a fourth added: “Pathetic. He didn’t help win any, and he can’t even get a run of wins together now.”
United went 2-0 up in just 14 minutes thanks to goals from Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, though Sesko’s goal caused some debate after a VAR review.
VAR had to decide if the ball touched Sesko’s hand before crossing the line, and after about three minutes, the goal was allowed.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot wasn’t happy with the decision.
“If there was a touch, which I believe there was, then it should have been disallowed,” he said. “If the ball’s curve changes, it means contact was made.”
“But if it’s a light touch, maybe football should discuss if that’s enough to cancel a goal. As of now, the rule says if there’s contact, the goal is off.”
“It’s no surprise this season that when VAR steps in on close calls, the decision usually doesn’t go our way,” he added.
“That’s been the story all season. I remember a soft penalty we should’ve gotten against Paris Saint-Germain at home, but VAR said no. Then the next week, PSG got a penalty for the same kind of touch against Bayern Munich.”
Slot went on: “I saw our goalkeeper get injured last week and the referee didn’t stop the game. Today, when a United player went off injured, the referee stopped the game when we were trying to keep playing. That’s been our season in a nutshell.”