Criticism of Liverpool Squad Branded “Nasty Work” by Dave Hendrick | OneFootball

Liverpool March Towards Title 20 as Hendrick Fires Back at Critics

Liverpool are just two wins away from being crowned champions of England for a record-equalling 20th time, and the club’s fanbase should be united in celebration. But on the latest episode of the Daily Red podcast on Anfield Index, host Dave Hendrick voiced frustration at those who seem underwhelmed by what should be a historic season under Arne Slot.

With a confident tone, Hendrick set the scene early: “The Reds are top of the league, 13 points clear, needing just two more victories to confirm Liverpool Football Club as the 2024/25 Premier League champions.” He added, “Our 20th top flight title in total, matching Manchester United.”

Context, Legacy and Ferguson’s Mythical “Perch”

Hendrick devoted time to dismantling the long-standing narrative that Sir Alex Ferguson knocked Liverpool off their perch. “That’s a perch we never actually lost,” he said. “On the day he retired, Manchester United were lifting their 43rd major trophy, but Liverpool had 44.”

His breakdown continued: “In terms of the big two trophies — the league title and the European Cup — it was 23–23. They had 20 league titles and 3 European Cups. We had 18 and 5. Now we have 19 and 6, about to be 20 and 6.”

The numbers aren’t just about history—they underscore the distance Liverpool have put between themselves and their rivals this season. “The gap in the league is currently 38 points,” Hendrick explained. “We have double the points total of Manchester United. It will likely be over 40 by the end of the season.”

Criticism From Within and the Problem of Perspective

Yet despite the dominance, not all fans seem satisfied. Hendrick vented his disbelief at those who downplay the season’s success. “I’ve seen people describe this season as the bare minimum. Winning a league title is the bare minimum?” he asked incredulously.

He linked this sentiment to a generational gap within the fanbase: “Unless you’re close to my age or older than me, you’ve only seen us win one title. If you were born in ‘91 or after, you could be 34 years of age and you’ve only seen one league title. That’s unacceptable. But this season you’re going to see us win a second.”

There was a clear frustration in his voice when he addressed ongoing complaints about the ownership: “Cribbing and crying while we’re about to win a league is just nasty work. It really is.”

Big Summer Starts With Big Retentions

A significant theme of the episode was the importance of retaining Liverpool’s key players — rather than just bringing in new ones. Hendrick was emphatic: “Signing Mo and Virgil is already a big summer. No matter who we sign this summer, we’re not signing anybody better than Virgil or Mo.”

He added: “They’re the two best players in the Premier League. They’re world-class, best-in-position, all-time talents. If you’re making a world XI, they’re two of the first picks.”

Crucially, Hendrick listed who he views as the club’s five most important players for the title-winning campaign: “Virgil, Mo, Alexis, Ali and Ibu… the five most important players to this title will be at the club next season.” That continuity, he argued, is more important than any rumoured signing.

Slot’s Comments, Transfer Chatter and Media Spin

Addressing misreadings of manager Arne Slot’s comments during a press conference, Hendrick explained why managers often appear vague or overly positive about their squads. “It’s mid-April. The title’s not won yet. What are you expecting him to say? ‘The squad is crap, I need nine players’?”

He explained the wider reasoning: “Managers rarely tell the truth when they sit in press conferences. They’re trying to control a narrative, protect their players, and most of them don’t trust the media.”

Reflecting on past seasons under Jurgen Klopp, he added: “Klopp used to lie every single week. The same thing would happen — people would lose their minds, and then a couple of days later it was proven to be a lie.”

The media landscape, according to Hendrick, is part of the problem. “It’s about the headline, not the content of the story,” he argued. “Managers don’t want to say anything salacious or controversial because they know how it will get spun.”

Moving Forward With Confidence

Hendrick’s final message was one of pride and belief: “We’re winning the league this season. And the two most important players are sticking around.”

He concluded with a clear warning to those fixated on transfer gossip or looking for fault in success: “This is a title-winning team, and people need to cop on.”