Arne Slot has acknowledged the increasing pressure surrounding Liverpool's underwhelming Premier League title defense, stating that it is "fair" to judge him based on the team's current form. The Reds, who clinched their 20th English title last year, currently sit sixth in the league standings.
Slot's comments come amidst a backdrop of growing scrutiny, with Liverpool failing to replicate their dominant form from the previous season. The team has struggled for consistency, with only five wins in their last 18 games. This slump has seen them fall behind in the race for a top-four finish, which guarantees automatic qualification for next season's Champions League.
"It's obvious that the closer you come to the end, the fewer opportunities you have to make a mistake," Slot said on Friday. "And we are now in a position that we cannot afford a lot of mistakes anymore, because we've made far too many, and with mistakes I mean giving away goals in the last minute". A recent example of this was their 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth, where they conceded in the 95th minute.
Despite their struggles in the league, Liverpool have secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a convincing 6-0 victory over Qarabag. However, Slot is aware that their domestic form needs significant improvement. "We are fully aware of the fact that one win isn't enough at this club, so the next one is coming fast with Newcastle," said Slot. "I'm 100 percent sure that that game is a bigger challenge than the one we faced Wednesday, but it's always helpful to win". Liverpool's next Premier League fixture is at home against Newcastle United.
Slot has also addressed the importance of his team's performance in both penalty boxes, acknowledging that improvements are needed at both ends of the pitch. "In between the boxes we are a very good team," Slot said. "If we have chances then be clinical and finish it off, that is something we have to improve. And in the other box other teams arrive there three or four times a game, but too many times it leads to a chance and sometimes a goal. That's a very bad cocktail we are having". He emphasized that improvements in both areas are crucial for Liverpool to achieve success this season. "If we improve in both boxes, I think we are able to win something this season. If we only improve in one box, it is going to be really difficult to win something this season. And if we can't improve in both boxes, there is going to be a lot of noise throughout the whole season," he added.
Slot's honesty and directness have been a talking point since his arrival at Liverpool, with some praising his candor and others suggesting he has been "a little too honest". He has even gone so far as to suggest that some of his own players aren't good enough to get into his side. However, Slot remains focused on the task at hand, which is to turn Liverpool's form around and secure a Champions League spot. He believes that the team has the quality to compete at the highest level, but they need to eliminate mistakes and be more clinical in both penalty boxes.
The pressure is certainly on for Arne Slot and Liverpool as they navigate a challenging period in their Premier League campaign. With the race for the top four intensifying, every game is crucial, and Slot knows that he will be judged on his ability to guide the team back to their winning ways.
