Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Fulham in the Premier League has sparked widespread debate, with pundit Gary Neville taking aim at manager Arne Slot over what he described as poor tactical decisions.
The result, which saw Fulham twice take the lead before Liverpool clawed back through goals from Mohamed Salah and Darwin Núñez, has left fans and analysts questioning whether Slot’s team selection cost the Reds a crucial victory.
Neville, who closely analyzed the match, reserved his sharpest criticism for Slot’s decision to field a player he referred to as an “overrated underperformer.” While Neville did not name the player directly, fans speculated he was referring to midfielder Curtis Jones, whose performance drew mixed reactions.
According to Neville, the player wasted numerous opportunities to deliver key assists and made questionable decisions in critical moments, contributing to Liverpool’s inability to secure all three points.
“Arne Slot has done a great job at Liverpool so far, but tonight he got it wrong,” Neville said during his post-match commentary.
“There were clear signs that one or two players just weren’t up to the task, yet he kept them on for too long. When you’re fighting for every point in a league as competitive as this, you can’t afford to carry passengers.”
Neville’s criticism didn’t stop at the player in question. He also questioned Slot’s game management, particularly his reluctance to make earlier substitutions.
“Fulham were exploiting Liverpool’s weaknesses for much of the match,” Neville added. “It was obvious that changes were needed, but Slot waited too long to act. By the time he did, the damage was already done.”
Fans on social media were divided over Neville’s remarks. Some supported his stance, agreeing that Slot’s tactical errors and questionable selections cost Liverpool the win.
Others defended Slot, pointing out that the team showed resilience to come back twice and that Fulham, under Marco Silva, are no pushovers. One fan tweeted, “Neville is right—there were players out there who didn’t deliver.
Slot needs to be more ruthless.” Another countered, “Blaming Slot for a draw against a strong Fulham side is harsh. This is football; sometimes things don’t go your way.”
Slot himself acknowledged the team’s shortcomings in his post-match interview, though he refrained from singling out any player. “We didn’t execute our game plan as well as we could have,” he admitted. “There’s always room for improvement, and we’ll analyze where we can do better.”
As Liverpool look to bounce back in their next fixture, the pressure is mounting on Slot to ensure his team doesn’t drop more points in their chase for Premier League glory.
While Neville’s criticism may sting, it serves as a reminder of the high expectations surrounding Liverpool’s season under their highly-rated manager.
