Peter Crouch gives honest Arne Slot verdict after PSG and Newcastle defeats
Peter Crouch has claimed Arne Slot has been a revelation since his arrival at Liverpool and reminded any recent critics that the Reds' season will not be decided by 'one week'.
The former striker, speaking ahead of Liverpool legends' game against Chelsea at Anfield was asked about his former side's season, especially on the back of bruising defeats by Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United last week, meaning the Reds are only playing now in one competition for the final months of the season.
But with Slot's side holding a 12-point lead at the top of the league, Crouch was keen to offer his view that a title success alone would constitute a fantastic campaign, especially given Jurgen Klopp departure last summer.
READ MORE: 5 things spotted in Liverpool Legends training with Steven Gerrard missing and Peter Crouch firing
READ MORE: 'I'm making Liverpool history and I want to inspire next generation of women's players'
'Yeah I think it's been an unbelievably successful season,' said the 44-year-old, speaking at Liverpool's AXA Training Centre. 'One week of football doesn't determine [anything].
'I think obviously it's not been a great week after Paris Saint-Germain. I think over the course of the two legs even the staunchest Liverpool fan would say they probably deserved it. I was at the Carabao Cup final and again it was just it wasn't the Liverpool we've seen this season, but I mean, if you go back to the start of the season and said you'd have a lead like this and you'd be out you have the competitions, every Liverpool fan will have bit your arm off.
'That's where they are now I think we need to take stock of that. After Jurgen left, the fact that Arne Slot has come in and done what he has done has just been a revelation. Everyone just needs to be a bit calm about it and look at it in the positive way it should be.'
Crouch also spoke of his excitement at returning to Anfield which will allow his five-year-old Liverpool-supporting son to see his dad pull on a red shirt once again at Anfield.
All proceeds from Saturday's game will be split between Liverpool and Chelsea's Foundations. The LFC Foundation supported over 127,000 people last year through its programmes, delivering 18,000 sessions and events across 300 community venues, including 199 schools.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Fabrizio Romano Confirms Florian Wirtz to Liverpool is ‘100% Done'
Liverpool Beat Rivals to Sign Florian Wirtz in Stunning Transfer Coup Liverpool have pulled off a sensational coup in the transfer market, with the signing of Florian Wirtz now '100% done,' according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. The Bayer Leverkusen star, widely regarded as one of the brightest attacking midfielders in Europe, has chosen Anfield as his next destination, turning down strong interest from Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester City. Advertisement Romano confirmed on Tuesday that 'Liverpool verbally agree deal in principle with Bayer Leverkusen for package reaching €150m add-ons included,' adding that the 'player side already agreed two weeks ago with move now imminent' and that 'Wirtz set for medical and contract signing.' The 22-year-old German international, currently on holiday, is expected to complete his move following a medical once the transfer window reopens on 16 June. This delay is due to FIFA Club World Cup regulations. Behind the Deal: Slot's Role and Player Decision This wasn't a transfer engineered overnight. Initial speculation linked Wirtz with Manchester City, especially after he was spotted in England with his parents, who also serve as his representatives. However, those assumptions were quickly flipped on their head. German reports suggested that the Wirtz entourage travelled not to Manchester, but to Merseyside. Advertisement Arne Slot, fresh off a Premier League-winning debut campaign, is believed to have played a pivotal role in securing the player's decision. During his UK visit, Wirtz reportedly held a direct conversation with the Liverpool manager. That meeting appears to have been decisive. The report explains that 'a conversation with the Liverpool boss convinced him to choose a move to Anfield over going to Bayern Munich.' Slot's project, vision and playing style are said to have swayed the attacking midfielder, who has long been touted as the spiritual successor to Mesut Özil in the German national team setup. Photo: IMAGO Mixed Reports but Deal Remains on Track Despite Romano's strong declarations, some sources remain slightly more cautious. A contradictory update came from another senior journalist, who stated there was 'no agreement yet' between the clubs. However, even that statement confirmed that Liverpool and Leverkusen were in the 'final stages' of negotiations. Advertisement Romano doubled down on his position, clarifying that 'I told you two days ago (Tuesday) that the agreement is done. I can confirm that the agreement is done. You can consider Wirtz as a Liverpool player.' The delay in any official confirmation is, according to Romano, entirely due to Wirtz being on holiday. Once he returns, the medical and contract signing are set to follow swiftly. Photo: IMAGO Strategic Timing Ahead of Window Opening With the summer transfer window closed until 16 June, Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen have time to finalise the structure of the deal, which is said to be complex due to the size of the package involved. Advertisement This breathing room could prove beneficial, as clubs look to iron out technicalities and payment schedules before the move is rubber-stamped. The final valuation, reportedly reaching €150 million including add-ons, represents a record-breaking commitment from Liverpool. But if Wirtz can translate his Bundesliga brilliance to the Premier League, it may well be a bargain in the long run. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis This is seismic. The sort of signing Liverpool fans used to dream about but rarely saw happen unless a star was being sold. To beat Bayern, Real Madrid and Man City to Florian Wirtz speaks volumes not just about Liverpool's pulling power, but also about the Slot effect. Arne Slot hasn't just won the league, he's clearly winning hearts and minds off the pitch too. Advertisement Wirtz is a generational talent. His ability to glide past players, his intelligence between the lines and his fearless creativity are exactly what this team needs to evolve again. While fans are rightly still emotional after the Klopp era, Slot seems to be building something both sustainable and exciting. There's a buzz growing. The thought of Wirtz linking up with Salah, Szoboszlai and Diaz in a fluid front four will have fans counting down the days until pre-season. The fee might be huge, but so was the statement. This is not a rebuild, it's a reload. Credit to Fabrizio Romano for staying consistent on this story. His updates have been the most confident throughout and, once again, he appears to have been proven right.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Club World Cup: Six new signings to look out for
Club World Cup: Six new signings to look out for After the introduction of an early transfer window ahead of the tournament, there are plenty of high-profile signings set to debut at this summer's Club World Cup. Ahead of the tournament's opening fixtures this weekend, we've picked out six stars set to wear their new colours for the first time. Club World Cup: Six new signings to look out for Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich) Bayern Munich have snapped up the signing of Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen on a free transfer. Advertisement Weakening a direct rival and strengthening their squad has been a regular recruitment focus for Bayern in recent years and Tah fits that brief perfectly. The 29-year-old made 402 appearances for Leverkusen over the last decade and formed part of the club's maiden title-winning squad in 2023/24. An experienced international with 37 caps for Germany, the defender is an astute addition to Vincent Kompany's squad. Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund) Jobe Bellingham has followed in the footsteps of older brother Jude, leaving English football for Borussia Dortmund. The 19-year-old helped Sunderland to promotion last season but will now make the jump from Championship to Champions League football. While the inevitable comparisons with his sibling will be impossible to ignore, the Bellingham family know just how nurturing an environment Dortmund can be. The teenager has missed England's u-21 European Championship campaign to feature at the Club World Cup with his new side. Liam Delap (Chelsea) Liam Delap is another who stepped down from England duty to take part in the Club World Cup. Advertisement The 22-year-old is a new addition at Chelsea, having joined from relegated Ipswich Town in a £30m deal. Chelsea beat off stiff competition to land Delap, who was a shining light in a struggling side with 12 league goals for the Tractor Boys. Delap has won plenty of plaudits for his old-school style of centre-forward play and will be aiming to oust Nicolas Jackson as Chelsea's leading man. Luis Henrique (Inter Milan) On the back of a disappointing end to the season that saw Inter miss out on Serie A and lose the Champions League final in record-breaking fashion, the Italians have entered the market. Advertisement Luis Henrique has moved to the San Siro from Marseille in a £19.4m deal, after a productive season in Ligue 1. The Brazilian scored seven times and provided seven assists to help the French side to Champions League qualification. The 23-year-old also ranked fourth in Ligue 1 for crosses and eighth for successful take-ons. Rayan Cherki (Manchester City) Manchester City have wasted no time in rebuilding their squad with four additions confirmed in the mini-window. Arguably the most exciting is Rayan Cherki, who has joined from Lyon for a fee of £30.9m. The winger is ready for the next step after taking his game to a new level in 2024/25. An excitement machine, Cherki scored 12 times and provided 19 assists, leading both Ligue 1 and the Europa League for goals created. Earlier this month, he marked his France debut with a spectacular goal against Spain to raise the anticipation of his arrival. Advertisement With Kevin De Bruyne leaving the Etihad this summer, the 21-year-old's task is to replace that output. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid) The will-he won't-he saga ended predictably as Trent Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool for Real Madrid. A move to the Spanish capital had long been expected as the defender's contract ran down at Anfield. Unveiled this week, Alexander-Arnold discussed, in Spanish, his excitement to get started, and the Club World Cup offers an early opportunity for silverware. The likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior will be relishing the service from Alexander-Arnold, who has redefined attacking expectations from full-back in recent years. Alexander-Arnold is as close to a Galactico right-back as there is. Advertisement Read – Club World Cup: Six iconic veterans set to star this summer See more – Club World Cup: Five exciting young talents to watch Follow The Football Faithful on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
🚨 Wirtz set to cost much less, reports: Bayer and LFC agree on fee
The transfer poker for Florian Wirtz has been going on for weeks, but now the clubs are said to have clarified the last details. According to current consistent media reports from England and Germany, only the medical check is still standing in the way of the deal. However, the well-known transfer experts in the scene have now raised a much bigger puzzle with the details. The 'kicker' and 'Sky' reporter Florian Plettenberg report consistently that Liverpool will pay a fixed transfer fee of 130-135 million euros for Wirtz, and the sum could increase to up to 150 million euros through various bonuses. Advertisement In contrast, there are the reports from England's transfer guru David Ornstein from 'The Athletic' and the also well-informed Andy Hunter from 'The Guardian'. The two Englishmen estimate the transfer fee at "only" 100 million pounds and 16 million pounds in bonuses, which is equivalent to approximately 117.5 million euros and almost 19 million euros in bonuses. With a possible total sum of a maximum of 136.5 million euros, the Englishmen thus locate the transfer fee significantly lower than their German colleagues. If not all bonuses are achieved, the transfer could ultimately not even go through as the most expensive Bundesliga sale in history. Ousmane Dembélé currently holds this status, who switched from Dortmund to Barcelona in 2017 for 135 million euros. So, is Wirtz significantly cheaper than thought? If you believe the reports from England, Liverpool FC has managed to negotiate down the transfer fee originally demanded by Bayer Leverkusen after all. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here. 📸 Alex Grimm - 2025 Getty Images
