What the ECHO thinks about Liverpool atmosphere after Wembley arguments

It's been a difficult week for Liverpool Football Club. The Reds were dumped out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain after a penalty shootout before a poor display from Arne Slot's side at Wembley saw Newcastle United triumph 2-1 in the Carabao Cup final.

The bigger picture might show Liverpool with a 12-point lead at the top the the Premier League and closing in on a 20th title.

Yet that won't prevent the feeling of frustration as the Reds enter the international break, and those feelings of angst have spread to the stands, where supporters have been debating the atmosphere at Wembley and in recent matches at Anfield.

Our writers have their say on that fan debate as Liverpool prepare for a final nine league matches that will make or break Slot's first season in charge.

Ian Doyle

Here's my message for anyone complaining about the atmosphere at Wembley among Liverpool supporters: what on Earth did you expect?

It was arguably the third-biggest game that week for the Reds, and came on the back of a demoralising Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain just five days earlier (where, by the way, the atmosphere was excellent for the most part). Not much of a surprise, then, that fans were a little subdued heading into the final.

For Newcastle, though, it was arguably one of the biggest games in their history. And if it's wrong to say their players wanted the win more than Arne Slot's side, it's less so to suggest their fans craved victory more than the collective Liverpool fanbase.

Newcastle helped generate their own atmosphere by handing out free black-and-white scarves that were duly used throughout the game. Can you imagine what would have happened had Liverpool done the same to their fans? Most of the scarves would have been chucked. You don't tell Reds fans how to support their team.

Cultural difference? Most definitely. A slight sense of entitlement? Possibly. After all, some fans regard themselves far too cool to take part in any of that colours nonsense. But there's a lot who do, and the infighting among a small section of supporters afterwards didn't take long to centre on the age-old debate of what exactly constitutes a "proper" matchgoing Liverpool fan. How boring and predictable. Time to change that particular record, methinks.

After all, nobody really has these arguments when their team wins. And it's not as if the Liverpool players gave the fans much off which to feed. Reds supporters aren't soft, and they could sense in the opening minutes that things could very well go awry. Only in injury time did they find anything like their full voice.

In any case, Liverpool have bigger fish to fry this season. They are 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League having lost just one top-flight game all campaign, don't forget.

The reality is the atmosphere next time out in the Anfield derby will be bouncing, as it should be for all the remaining home games. And however Newcastle mark their League Cup triumph, it will be nothing compared to the outpouring of joy should Reds supporters have the chance to properly celebrate the Premier League victory that was denied them five years ago.

Theo Squires

The Premier League season was 29 games old when Liverpool supporters were robbed of the opportunity to enjoy the run-in and celebrate winning a first league title in 30 years back in 2020. Now five years on, the Reds are 12 points clear at the top of the table, and closing in being crowned champions again.

It has been a disappointing week for the club, exiting the Champions League at the round-of-16 and losing in the League Cup final. But can any supporter hand on heart claim Liverpool deserved any more from either clash?

Be it on the pitch, in the dugout or in the stands, it is easy to wonder what if in hindsight. But what's done is done. And it is futile to point the finger at each other as supporters look for someone to blame. You cannot change the past.

The Reds don't have a divine right to win every match. They have to turn up. And now as one eye anxiously looks over the shoulder at Arsenal after this mini-blip, they need their supporters to turn up for them once again.

If Liverpool let their lead at the top of the Premier League table slip, they will never hear the end of it. It would be a monumental collapse.

Supporters have to unify to do their part to ensure that cannot be allowed to happen. Yes, the atmosphere could have been better in recent games. But the performances could have been too. As Arne Slot's squad look to bounce back after the international break, the club's fanbase need to as well.

They have been spoilt in recent years under Jurgen Klopp's watch, winning trophies and reaching finals aplenty. Perhaps that partly explains the anger and frustration now when Liverpool fall short.

But a whole generation of supporters could be about to witness something not experienced by the Reds for a whopping 35 years. It should be something to cherish. Enjoy the ride.

If Liverpool end the season as champions, regardless of what happened at Wembley, these are the times we will never forget. Supporters will be celebrating in unison no matter where they were they are watching on from. So rather than turn on each other, instead focus on helping turn such dreams into reality.

Joe Rimmer

It's a shame to see some of the infighting among Liverpool fans. It's been a really poor week, no doubt, but let's not forget what a remarkable season it is.

After all, who'd have thought that the team would find themselves in such a strong position in the league with nine matches to go? That competition, more than any other, would have been top of most supporters' priorities when it came to trophies this year, and yet even the most imaginative fan would have struggled to predict the success Arne Slot has enjoyed in the Premier League so far.

And it's why, for me, we've seen a slightly disappointing atmosphere against both PSG and Newcastle. It's simply human nature.

Indeed, when Liverpool met Chelsea in the semi finals of the Champions League in 2005, the sheer desperation to reach the final of a competition the Reds hadn't won since 1984, plus the fact that Rafael Benitez's side were huge underdogs, translated itself into arguably the greatest atmosphere Anfield had ever seen.

It was similar 14 years later when a new generation of Liverpool supporters created something incredible to help get Jurgen Klopp's side over the line against Barcelona.

Newcastle were in a similar position on Sunday and it was no surprise - if a little disappointing - that their support and their players seemingly wanted it that little bit more.

All the arguments about wearing colour, other club crests and, sadly, "daytrippers" are just a symptom of that frustration. Nobody has a divine right to support a football team and you can show that support in any way you choose.

But with nine huge football matches - including the derby and the visit of Arsenal - on the horizon with the most unlikely of titles on the line, those big atmospheres will be back sooner than you think.

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