Arne Slot has expressed surprise at Chelsea’s significant drop in form this season, especially given how competitive they were in their previous encounter with Liverpool. The two sides met at Anfield in October, with Curtis Jones scoring the winner in a narrow 2-1 victory for Liverpool. Despite the loss, Chelsea’s performance was impressive, and they seemed poised to be a serious contender under manager Enzo Maresca.
However, while Slot’s team has gone on to secure the league title with ease, Chelsea has struggled, tumbling down the Premier League table and now facing a fight to secure Champions League qualification. Slot admitted he did not foresee Chelsea’s dramatic decline, particularly after their strong showing at Anfield.
“I’m completely surprised by the gap between us now because at that time, they were the better team on the pitch,” Slot said in his pre-match press conference. “But we found a way to win, and that’s a quality we hadn’t needed much, but we had to suffer more than in any other game.”
Despite Chelsea’s form, Slot isn’t expecting an easy match when the two teams meet again on Sunday. He praised Chelsea for their consistency in style, noting their tendency to push defenders into midfield—something Liverpool struggled to defend in their previous meeting. “They have so many good players, and that’s the biggest challenge you face against them,” Slot added.
Sunday’s clash will be Liverpool’s first match since securing the league title. Slot shared that he’s been receiving congratulatory messages, including one from Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp. “What did he say? Congratulations, now I know what a special club it is, I am part of history,” Slot revealed. “He was really happy for the fans and the club.”