Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has admitted that his side are still battling inconsistency in key moments of games as they prepare for a huge clash against Aston Villa in the race for Champions League qualification.
The Reds travel to Villa Park knowing that every point matters after dropping points again in a frustrating 1-1 draw against Chelsea last weekend. A result that left the Merseyside club still fighting to secure their European objectives heading into the final stretch of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa and Liverpool meet in massive top-four showdown, with both clubs still pushing hard for a Champions League place.
Speaking ahead of the match as reported by liverpool via their youtube channel, Slot provided updates on his squad and hinted that Mohamed Salah could return in limited minutes while uncertainty remains around Alisson Becker and Florian Wirtz.
Arne Slot began by saying:
Mo will be available tomorrow for only a few minutes but hopefully he can come in. Alisson trained with us again and we’ll see tomorrow if he’s ready already or if he has to wait for one more week. Florian is still recovering from a stomach infection and he’s on antibiotics, so we have to wait and see whether he’s fit enough to play.
When asked about speculation linking Alisson with a possible move away from Liverpool, Slot refused to be drawn into transfer discussions and insisted the supporters would continue backing the Brazilian regardless of the rumours surrounding his future.
The Liverpool manager said:
I’m reading the same things that everybody else is reading, but this is not the place where I’m going to speak about those situations. Our fans will support Alisson whether it’s his first game or his last game because that’s what they always do with our players.
Reflecting on the Chelsea draw, Slot admitted the result was disappointing because Liverpool knew victory would have significantly strengthened their push for Champions League qualification.
He explained:
We wanted to win because we knew that if we had won the game we would have qualified for the Champions League. We pushed until the final second and in the second half you could clearly see we were much more on the front foot. But once again this season the crossbar and the post were between us and victory.
The Dutch coach also praised Aston Villa and rejected suggestions that Unai Emery’s side could be fatigued despite their demanding schedule across multiple competitions.
Slot stated:
One of the reasons why Villa are in the Europa League final and doing so well in the Premier League is because they have a big squad full of quality players. They have many players at the same high level and that’s why they can compete in every competition.
The Liverpool boss then paid an emotional tribute to Andy Robertson, describing the Scottish defender as one of the players who changed the role of a modern fullback through his relentless intensity and energy.
Slot said:
Andy Robertson changed the position into one where a player constantly goes up and down the pitch. I remember clips where he pressed from left-back, ended up on the right wing and then sprinted back again. Managers everywhere used those clips to show their players what intensity and mentality really look like.
Speaking about Liverpool’s struggles away from home this season, Slot admitted their poor record on the road has been one of the key reasons why they are still fighting for Champions League qualification rather than already securing it.
He explained:
We’ve dropped too many points away from home, especially after European games. In many matches we were in a very good position after 70 or 80 minutes but still lost points late on. A lot of that has to do with the physical and mental demands on the same group of players.
Slot also addressed growing criticism surrounding his future after Liverpool failed to maintain the standards of previous seasons, insisting he fully expects to remain in charge next season despite the speculation.
The Liverpool manager responded
If a club doesn’t have its best season then people will always debate the future of the manager. That’s modern football. Everybody has a right to their opinion, especially now when everyone can share it publicly. But from all the talks we are having, I have every reason to believe I will still be Liverpool manager next season.
The Dutchman acknowledged that Liverpool’s biggest issue this season has been their inability to turn dominance into goals, despite often controlling matches for long periods.
Slot admitted:
I think we’ve been the better team for 70 or 80 percent of most games this season and we spend a lot of time in the final third. But that dominance hasn’t led to enough chances and when we do create them, we haven’t converted enough goals compared to last season.
Watch video below
Softfootball believes Liverpool’s clash with Aston Villa could define their season, as Slot’s men continue fighting to secure Champions League football while also trying to silence growing questions about consistency, mentality, and the club’s long-term direction under the Dutch manager.
