Manager insists “the best is still to come” as his side improve in fitness and get better at set plays
Arne Slot believes Liverpool are still some distance from the team he wants them to be this season and has warned that recent results should not cloud the need to be better at set-pieces.
Liverpool have recovered from a damaging run of nine defeats in 12 matches, their worst in more than seven decades, and now sit fifth in the Premier League, level on points with Chelsea in fourth. An unbeaten run of six games has steadied the campaign, but Slot said the league position remains below expectations and the performances are not yet convincing.
“We are in the position we deserve after the first half of the season,” Slot said ahead of Saturday’s home match against Wolves. “I think we should be higher, let that be clear. I was expecting and hoping for us to be higher in the table. But even in the last six games the difference between us and the other team is constantly too small.”
Liverpool will be without Dominik Szoboszlai, who is suspended, and Alexander Isak, who is now facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Slot stressed that narrow wins over Tottenham and Brighton owed something to good fortune and insisted the team must become dominant enough for luck to be irrelevant.
“We have been a few times a bit lucky with the result and we need to find a situation where we are so much better than the other team that luck or bad luck does not influence it any more,” said Slot.
“Referees and set pieces have had an incredible impact on the start of our season, but we should not have that as an excuse. That should not lead to us dropping points.”
Set-pieces have been a serious weakness. Only Bournemouth have conceded more goals from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season. Slot acknowledged that changing that form in set plays is essential if Liverpool are to climb the table.
“If you look at our set-piece balance, there is not one team in the world that is minus eight in set pieces and is still joint-fourth in the league,” Slot said. “From open play we are the number-one team in the league for chance creation, but I don’t think anyone sees it because in general we are criticised a lot.”
Slot maintained that improvement is inevitable as the squad continues to adapt, pointing to fitness gains and better understanding among players who missed parts of pre-season.
“Players are getting fitter and fitter, not only the ones we brought in but also the ones who missed out in pre-season,” Liverpool’s head coach said. “They are getting used to each other. I think the best is still to come for this team.”
