Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is calling for his team to translate their impressive Champions League form into their domestic campaign, following their qualification for the last 16. Despite a dominant 6-0 victory over Qarabag, Slot recognizes the need to improve their Premier League performance, especially with a challenging match against Newcastle United on the horizon.
"It is what you want if you start the Champions League season, you want to finish top eight because that helps because you skip a round so we're happy that we are going straight away to the last 16,” Slot stated, highlighting the importance of securing a top spot in their group. The emphatic win against Qarabag saw goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Mohamed Salah, and Federico Chiesa, securing Liverpool's place in the next round and avoiding the play-off round. Salah's goal was his first for the club since November 1.
Slot acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, "There was an obvious improvement (from the 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth) but with all respect for the team we faced tonight I expect Newcastle to be a stronger side than Qarabag". He emphasized that showcasing such performance once is insufficient and that consistency is key moving forward. "If we can improve in both boxes it's going to be very hard for any team to play against us, but showing that once is not enough, we have to show this from now on constantly," he added.
The Liverpool squad is currently dealing with a growing injury crisis, further complicating matters for Slot. Jeremie Frimpong sustained an early injury during the Qarabag match, adding to the team's woes. Slot addressed the situation, saying, "Today has shown again that sometimes things are a bit more complicated than people think. Jeremie is a great example". With limited options on the bench, Slot was forced to deploy central midfielder Wataru Endo at full-back for a portion of the game.
Despite the mounting injuries, Slot indicated that he does not anticipate any late movement in the transfer window. He emphasized the club's focus on long-term planning, stating, "As a club we always make decisions, as we at least think smart decisions, so we not only look at the short term we also look at the longer term, that's why we sign very good players but young ones that can still develop".
Liverpool currently sits 6th in the Premier League. Slot recognizes the challenges ahead and is determined to instill a consistent level of performance in both European and domestic competitions.
