Liverpool’s season implodes after Ibiza controversy — and Paul Scholes isn’t holding back.
Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has blasted Liverpool manager Arne Slot, calling his much-publicized Ibiza getaway both “classless” and “disrespectful.” According to Scholes, the Reds’ dramatic collapse can be traced back to that ill-timed trip, which took place before the Premier League season officially wrapped up. Barely half a year ago, Liverpool were basking in the glory of their title triumph under Slot’s fearless, attacking football. Now, they look like a team lost in its own shadow.
From champions to chaos
What happened? After cruising to the league title in April, Liverpool failed to win any of their last four Premier League matches. Slot, apparently believing the hard work was done, flew to Ibiza and was spotted partying with nightlife figure Wayne Lineker — all while the season still had games left. Fast forward to the present: Liverpool sit 12th in the table, having lost six of their last seven league fixtures in the 2025-26 campaign.
Scholes vented his frustration on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, saying: “This all started at the end of last season. Do you remember when they clinched the title? They fell apart straight after that. Arne Slot was out in Ibiza, DJing, before the season was even done. That’s disrespectful. It’s classless.” Harsh words, but they’ve struck a nerve among fans debating whether he has a point. Was Slot just celebrating success, or did he send the wrong message to his squad?
Slot shoulders the blame
While Slot has avoided discussing the Ibiza incident publicly, he has admitted feeling responsible for Liverpool’s “ridiculous” dip in performance. The Dutchman entered the season with enormous credit, having led the Reds to a title without major reinforcements. But this summer, following a massive £400 million ($527m) spending spree, expectations skyrocketed—and so did the criticism.
Ahead of the upcoming Champions League showdown with PSV Eindhoven, Slot confessed: “This situation is unbelievable. I never expected to be in something like this at Liverpool… but when challenges hit, this club faces them together. The tougher it gets, the closer we become.” Admirable words, but faith in him seems to be thinning fast around Anfield.
A crumbling defense
Liverpool’s latest embarrassment came in a shocking 3-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest—a team battling relegation. Captain Virgil van Dijk didn’t hold back afterward, saying the players were “letting the manager down” and had to dig their way out of this “mess.” Compare this to last season: Liverpool conceded 41 goals while marching to the title. Now, they’ve leaked 20 goals in just 12 league games. Slot himself admitted this was unacceptable: “The number of goals we concede, especially from set pieces, is ridiculous for a club of our stature,” he told reporters. “I feel guilt for it. The simple football aspects—the basics—we’re not getting right. And simple football is often the hardest to master.”
What’s next for the Reds?
Liverpool’s home clash against PSV could be their turning point—or their next disaster. A win might steady nerves and restore some belief, while another loss could push Slot to the brink. They also face West Ham away this Sunday, and anything less than two wins could plunge the Dutchman into a full-blown managerial crisis.
Some fans argue that Scholes is reading too much into a harmless trip. Others see it as a glaring sign of misplaced priorities. Was it simply bad timing, or the moment everything began to unravel? The debate continues—and everyone seems to have an opinion.
Do you agree with Scholes that Arne Slot’s Ibiza visit showed poor judgment, or was it just overblown media drama? Share your take below.
