As a season of great turmoil – both on and off the pitch – nears the end, it’s important to remember that Liverpool works best in unity…
DON’T make me tap the sign.
The sign currently reads any number of the following:
- People who are vastly different can support the same football team.
- You don’t have to agree on everything related to your club.
- Liverpool is unequivocally at its best when a sense of purpose and unison is present.
The last point usually comes from football. When there is optimism and purpose in the endeavour and we can all busy ourselves. Idle hands make work for the Red Devils.
Such unity is rare, but not impossible. As points one and two allude to, we don’t have to be aligned on everything, or anything much. Just our unwavering support of Liverpool Football Club.
These emotional beasts, these social experiments, these cults we call football clubs have religious status. Followed by adoring disciples yet also occupied by wealthy naval-gazers. Such loyalty and demand is now assumed, even exploited at times. People can become numbers to squeeze. Responsibility for others becomes socialist trope. Football has become for the few, not the many.
I’m not saying Liverpool’s senior board members think this way. I’m not saying the players or staff do. But it’s a state of inertia which can happen naturally. Money in football has created a race to the bottom. Eyes have globally gone off the ball.
Our football club is in a precarious situation. In the points and vibes table, it now sits behind the team who finished 15th last season and looked like the biggest joke in town.
Manchester United is a positive example of how quickly things can change for the better. How it’s never the case of being too hard or too easy. Nothing is guaranteed.
The situation on the pitch for Liverpool currently looks disjointed. Standards are being questioned and at least two more club legends will depart this summer to add to uncertainty.
Arguably the last thing anyone needed was a three-year ticketing increase which has rightly led to action from the clubs own supporters board and fan groups.
The protest has been another fatiguing element to this incredibly punishing season. We feel as brittle as Alexander Isak’s groin at this point. We all need a break.
That’s why Thursday’s announcement of a climbdown (of sorts) from Liverpool FC was welcomed by everyone. Financially, freezing ticket prices for 2027/28 will help lots of people, but this felt more like collective relief amongst the supporter base. Mum and dad have stopped fighting. The house is quiet again now.
Nobody at Liverpool wanted this situation. I refuse to believe those making the decision willed the drawing of battle lines. Again, we can have conversations about an obtuse approach and the fact we’ve all been put through the wringer before common sense could prevail. It feels completely avoidable.
We remain somehow on course for a fourth-place finish in the league. The departing Mohamed Salah’s crowbarred conversation about standards slipping last week, combined with some language used by Andy Robertson this season raises questions about the character of this squad.
The summer 2025 signings should and will get another season to prove themselves at Anfield before any judgement is passed. Liverpool will have some more distance between Diogo Jota’s tragic passing and nine months where they’re expected to be mentally and physically elite throughout.
Arne Slot looks destined to continue as head coach despite plenty of supporters now being against this decision. It’s important to remember that none of the noise coming out suggests Slot has lost the trust of the players or owners, despite some worrying performances this season.
Such conjecture requires a leap of faith from everyone. Supporters must trust the team to deliver. The team and head coach need to offer hope in the form of results and performances. The club needs to trust its own supporters board to act in good faith. The supporters board and fan groups must trust lessons have been learnt and further dialogue will continue.
Liverpool must find a way back to being unified. It’s the one true signifier of a healthy club which can’t be measured financially.
Thursday was one small step. Securing Champions League football would be another. None of this will be easy, but it’s never as bad as it seems.
We don’t all have to agree. We just need a purpose.
