Gary Neville rejects Arne Slot claim after Liverpool manager reaches agreement with FSG

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Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has challenged Liverpool manager Arne Slot's claim that his side are experiencing a transitional campaign. The pressure is mounting on Slot as his squad continue to falter despite a remarkable £415million outlay during the summer window.

The Reds suffered a 3-2 injury-time loss at Bournemouth on Saturday - bringing their 13-match unbeaten streak to an end and extending their winless Premier League stretch to five fixtures. Slot's side now occupy sixth spot in the top-flight standings and trail league leaders Arsenal by 14 points after 23 matches.

Liverpool's difficulties this term mark a dramatic departure from their largely dominant league performance last season, when Slot's side won the title by 10 points. Many anticipated the Reds would build upon their 20th English top-flight crown and establish dominance.

However, Slot stated last week that he, the club's owners Fenway Sports Group, and sporting director Richard Hughes all agree that this season represents a "transition phase" at Anfield. The Dutchman has appealed for greater patience as scrutiny intensifies.

He said: "You cannot play attacking football with the ball possession we have and sometimes it is a disadvantage for us that we have that much possession because people expect more from the possession you have.

"But if you want to have more ball possession the moment you don't have it, you have to press really high because the moment you go into a low block you don't have possession.

"So everyone at the club, me, ownership, sporting directors and we know what it takes to make the next step in this transition phase. But sometimes a little bit of patience is needed in that as well."

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However, Neville has taken issue with Slot's perspective. Speaking on Sunday's Gary Neville Podcast, the former England defender maintains there can be no discussion of a rebuilding campaign on Merseyside following such massive expenditure on fresh talent.

The 50-year-old said: "I watched the Liverpool game, and I always think when you win a league title that you have a lot of credit in the bank and it takes a lot to erode, it's a hard thing to do.

" Arne Slot has won that title with that group of players last season. I've heard a couple of interviews in the past week from Liverpool people, including the manager, and it was always going to be a transition season. Forget that, I'm not listening to that.

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"£450m spent in the summer on all those players was the season you were going to win back-to-back titles. Let's not rewrite history on what everyone was saying in the summer, including non-Liverpool people. I'm not saying Liverpool people or fans were getting carried away.

"But there was definitely a feeling Ekitike, Wirtz, Isak, Frimpong, Kerkez wasn't a transition season transfer window, it was adding to a very stable squad of champions; with the likes of Salah and Van Dijk re-signed, with the likes of Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Konate and Alisson. This wasn't a rebuild.

"I've heard transition mentioned a couple of times this week, but I'm not hearing that at all. You can't rewrite history."

Liverpool will now be aiming to rediscover their rhythm with three straight home fixtures on the horizon. The Reds take on Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday evening before welcoming Newcastle United on Saturday, followed by a challenging clash against Manchester City eight days later.

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