Alonso Rages at Liverpool as Pennant Demands Slot's Head After Brentford Stalemate

Liverpool's season petered out in the most Liverpool of fashions on Sunday—a limp 1-1 draw at Anfield against Brentford that left supporters fuming and prompted fresh calls for Arne Slot's dismissal.

The Reds scraped into the Champions League places on the final day, finishing fifth despite having won the Premier League title under Slot just twelve months earlier. That's quite the trajectory, and it's hardly surprising the fanbase has had enough.

Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant certainly has. Taking to social media, he launched a scathing attack on the board's apparent willingness to stick with their manager. "The board cannot sit in the directors' box watching this absolute garbage and conclude this manager will challenge for silverware next season," he declared, before adding: "This should be the nail in the coffin."

Pennant's frustration deepened when he turned his attention to the numbers. Against the Premier League's top nine sides across home and away fixtures—that's 18 games—Liverpool have managed precisely three wins. Three. He implored FSG to "do the right thing for the club and these players."

Liverpool reporter James Pearce had indicated before the Brentford match that Fenway Sports Group remained committed to backing Slot through the summer, despite weeks of speculation suggesting the Dutchman's job was on the line.

That decision, it seems, has cost the club dearly. Xabi Alonso, the former Liverpool midfielder and Real Madrid boss who had generated considerable excitement among sections of the support as a potential successor, has now agreed to manage Chelsea instead. And he's not best pleased about how events unfolded.

Spanish media reports reveal Alonso is "furious" at the Reds hierarchy. The source of his anger? Timing, and a perceived lack of clarity from the club. Alonso believes Liverpool dithered when they needed to be decisive, and now—having finally settled on Slot—they're reportedly reconsidering their position. Too little, too late.

"The problem is the timing," the report explained. "Just days after his move to Chelsea was finalised, reports have resurfaced from England suggesting that Liverpool might reconsider Slot's future."

The Tolosa-born coach expected better from a club with whom he shares a special bond. Instead, he feels the hierarchy handled the entire process poorly, hesitating when they should have acted and leaving him with no choice but to look elsewhere.

When pressed about his plans for next season on Sunday, Slot offered a measured response. "We brought in a lot of players last season," he said. "When they're available again, that will be a change. Every football club will sign one or two and we will do that. We need everyone available and then our results will be better."

Whether that optimism proves justified remains to be seen. For now, Liverpool finds itself in limbo—Slot apparently secure in his position, Alonso slipping away to Stamford Bridge, and the supporters left wondering what might have been.