Liverpool manager Arne Slot has issued a clear challenge to his squad, stating that the team’s underwhelming league position is a direct reflection of their performances and that significant improvement is required to achieve their objectives. Despite a recent upturn in form, Slot believes his side remains far from the dominant force he intends to build.
The Reds have steadied themselves after a historically poor run of results, moving into fifth place in the Premier League. However, Slot remains unimpressed, pointing to consistently narrow margins in recent matches as evidence that the team is not yet controlling games as required.
“We are where we deserve to be,” Slot stated ahead of the weekend’s fixture. “My expectation was to be higher, and that hasn’t changed. Even during this improved period, the gap between us and our opponents has been minimal. We’ve relied on fortune at times, and we must reach a level where the result is dictated by our superiority, not by chance.”
While acknowledging that contentious officiating and misfortune have played a part in a difficult start, Slot refused to lean on those factors as excuses for dropped points. He instead pinpointed a critical and persistent weakness: set-pieces.
The statistics are damning. Only one club has conceded more goals from dead-ball situations than Liverpool’s total of eleven this campaign. Conversely, while several rivals have reached double figures for set-piece goals scored, Liverpool have managed just three, creating one of the league’s most lopsided records in this department.
“This is the fundamental issue,” Slot explained. “No team can sustain a deficit of eight goals from set-pieces and expect to compete at the top. Our play from open situations has been among the best in the division for creating chances, but that work is being completely undone. Rectify this area, and our standing would look entirely different—we’d likely be several points better off.”
The Dutch coach struck an optimistic note for the future, citing improving player fitness and growing tactical understanding within the group. “The players are adapting, and those who missed preparation are finding their rhythm. I am convinced the best of this team is still ahead,” he said.
However, his message was unequivocal: for that potential to be realized, a set-piece revolution is non-negotiable. Slot views proficiency in these moments not as a mere add-on, but as an essential component that currently holds the key to Liverpool’s season.