‘If the fans boo the manager then the players don’t perform’ – Barnes

Liverpool legend John Barnes hopes fans “demand” the club’s players deliver for new boss Arne Slot.

The Dutch boss has – by his own admission – “big shoes to fill” in replacing the iconic Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

“I’m hoping the players show the same respect to Slot that they showed to Klopp by giving 100 per cent,” Barnes said.

“I’m hoping the fans get behind them regardless of how well they do to begin with. All of a sudden if we lose the first game of the season, I don’t want us to then talk about Klopp not being here.

“I’m sure the players and the fans will still have enough respect for Slot to give the same trust we had in Klopp.

“When you have someone as iconic as Jurgen Klopp that the fans love, you know if we lose today the fans are not going to blame the manager, they will blame the players, so they have to perform.

“If the fans boo the manager, then the players don’t perform, so the fans have a big part to play, they have to demand the players play for the football club, forget Klopp or Slot.”