Alan Shearer sticks knife into Arne Slot with 'no sympathy' admission amid Liverpool crisis

Liverpool backed Slot with a summer spending spree, recruiting names such as Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Milos Kerkez as they look to win the title for the second year on the trot.

Results simply haven't been good enough, however, with the Merseyside titans a shadow of the side that cruised to the crown last term.

In midweek, after the defeat to Palace, Slot suggested that he had to rotate his squad because he doesn't have the same luxury of riches as Liverpool's title rivals.

But Shearer, speaking to Betfair, insists he's got no sympathy for the former Feyenoord boss given the backing he got in pre-season.

"Slot is not going to get any sympathy from me for saying his squad is too thin, nor should he with the team he had last season," he said.

"I know they sold one or two, and obviously there was the tragedy that happened in the summer as well.

"But when you’ve spent nearly £450million, you won’t get any sympathy about the size of your squad or lack of depth.

"He had good players available that he chose not to play against Palace.

"It looks like a gamble that’s backfired - but he can put it right on Saturday. The problem is, it piles on more pressure, and that team already had plenty of that.

"What would concern me most is how easily Liverpool have been rolled over lately — the lack of aggression, they haven’t competed anywhere near enough.

"They haven’t done that, and they’ve been punished - all eyes are on Saturday evening at Anfield.

"You need leaders. You need players to put in performances and show some character.

"When things are going well, it’s easy to play your game, but when your backs are against the wall, that’s when you find out who really wants the ball. Liverpool need to show that on Saturday night."

Shearer also expressed a belief that Liverpool would be out of the title race if they lose to Villa, who have overcome a slow start to the season with some positive results and performances in recent weeks.

Responding to suggestions that Slot could be sacked should Liverpool continue to falter, Shearer said: "In terms of Arne Slot losing his job – yes, without a doubt it’s an overreaction. He did a great job last year.

"I know he came into a very good football club with some excellent players, and they didn’t add a lot to it, hardly anything, really.

"But he still did a great job last year, and obviously Liverpool are really struggling now.

"I wouldn’t say crisis just yet - but they’re in a very sticky situation.

"We might have to use the word crisis if Villa beat them at Anfield on Saturday. For now, I’d say it’s a sticky situation rather than a full-blown crisis.

"I thought it was a huge gamble that backfired against Palace.

"Having said that, if they win on Saturday and again on Tuesday, then from his point of view it could prove to be the right decision - because the Carabao Cup would have been low on the priority list.

"But when you’re a club already struggling and desperately in need of a result, it’s risky to put out that sort of side and those substitutes.

"If you lose narrowly say 1–0 to a dodgy decision - fine.

"But when you’re battered at home and Palace fans are singing 'Can we play you every week?', that’s damaging.

"We won’t know the full extent of the fallout until after Saturday evening’s result.

"It’s put more pressure on the players who’ll come back in for the Villa game at Anfield. If they win, he’ll say it was the right decision - but they have to win now after that selection.

"If they lose on Saturday, I don’t see them in the title race.

"If they win, build confidence, they’ve still got the quality to go on a big run. Saturday evening is huge - another defeat, and I think they’re out of it."