Liverpool’s Consistency Comes Under Scrutiny Ahead of Manchester City Clash

Liverpool’s head coach, Arne Slot, humorously remarked on his team’s “consistency” in the Premier League this season, though he noted that this consistency has predominantly manifested in a series of losses.

The reigning champions suffered four consecutive defeats before recovering with a win against Aston Villa last weekend. They followed this up with a narrow 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League midweek.

As a result of last month’s challenges, Liverpool now finds itself seven points adrift of league leaders Arsenal. Slot has acknowledged that the team must engage in the “right things” to have any hope of closing the gap in the title race.

“We were indeed very consistent, but unfortunately, our consistency has been reflected in our losses,” Slot stated during a news conference prior to Sunday’s match against Manchester City. “Our aim now is to maintain consistency in executing the correct strategies. Manchester City presents one of the toughest challenges of the season when playing away, making this an intriguing fixture to anticipate.”

He added, “Even when I was not part of the club and was back in the Netherlands, I was always aware of when Manchester City faced Liverpool. I can assure you I was 100% in front of the television for those matches. These are the games that everyone eagerly awaits.”

Slot continued, “My primary focus remains on our team and achieving consistency. We have experienced more losses than we typically would, but with our recent two victories, we are on the right track. Our emphasis is on improvement and ensuring our players regain their fitness. We will assess where this leads us.”

In team news, Liverpool could potentially welcome back striker Alexander Isak for the match against Manchester City. Slot indicated that Isak would return to team training on Friday after a three-week absence due to a groin injury.

“Today marks his first training session with the team after three weeks out,” Slot confirmed. “Three weeks ago, I mentioned that his pre-season had concluded, and now it’s crucial for us to evaluate his current condition. However, it’s important to recognize that three weeks in rehabilitation doesn’t immediately restore one to prior fitness levels. While our team has performed admirably, there is no substitute for actual game experience or training with the squad. Therefore, patience is essential.”