Liverpool’s Season: A Battle for Consistency Under Arne Slot

Arne Slot has characterized Liverpool’s season thus far as a “constant battle,” asserting that their current position in fourth place accurately reflects their performance to date.

The Premier League champions extended their unbeaten streak to eight matches with a goalless draw against Leeds United at Anfield on Thursday. However, frustration was palpable among fans as Liverpool failed to apply sustained pressure against Daniel Farke’s side.

The result leaves the team six points behind third-place Aston Villa and twelve points adrift of league leaders Arsenal. “Realistically, I think there are two teams [Arsenal and Manchester City], with Villa being very close to them. Arsenal created a bit of a gap with Villa, but those two teams are considerably ahead of us right now, so we should not focus on them at this moment in time,” Slot remarked.

“We have faced our challenges throughout the season. Initially, we had a strong start in terms of results; the games were competitive. Then we went through a phase where we were consistently unlucky. Now, while we are unbeaten in the last seven or eight matches, it may seem like we are thriving in the league, but that is not the case.

“Every match is a hard-fought contest. We are often the superior team, but not by a large margin. We are consistently within a 20 percent difference from our opponents, which means that slight variations can heavily influence results. I will continue to push myself and the players to transcend that 20 percent barrier, allowing us to create more significant distinctions in our performance. We hope to reach a point where we can navigate the season more smoothly, but for the first 19 games, it has been a constant struggle, with luck fluctuating on both sides.

Following a difficult period in which Liverpool suffered nine losses in twelve matches across all competitions, Slot has successfully made the team more resilient defensively in recent weeks. However, this defensive stability has come at the cost of the team’s attacking prowess—a shift that has not been well-received by supporters.

“It is evident that we are conceding far fewer chances now,” Slot stated. “In our last seven or eight matches, we have been solid defensively, but it is also clear that we struggle to create enough scoring opportunities, despite dominating possession. This has been a recurring theme for us this season.

“The players are doing everything they can, pushing the ball to the wingers, making inside runs, and working collectively. Yet, sometimes we require a spark of magic to break through a tightly contested game, be it through individual brilliance or a set-piece. When such moments occur, everything appears more favorable, but that has not characterized our season thus far.

When asked if he believes Liverpool’s current standing in the league is just, Slot replied, “Yes, absolutely. Although margins are small. This could have easily resulted in us having three, four, five, or even six more points. However, in matches like today and many others, if we had executed set-pieces better, we would potentially have accrued more points as well. Given our performance, it is fair that we are behind Arsenal and Manchester City. There are reasons for our current position, as I have outlined, and it would not be just if we were placed above them given our overall play.”