Liverpool’s Struggles Highlighted by Slot Ahead of Manchester City Clash

Liverpool’s head coach, Arne Slot, humorously remarked that his team has been “very consistent” in the Premier League this season, though unfortunately, that consistency has pertained primarily to losing matches.

The reigning champions faced a challenging month, suffering four consecutive league defeats before regaining form with a victory over Aston Villa last weekend. They continued their resurgence with a narrow 1-0 win against Real Madrid in the Champions League midweek.

Currently, Liverpool finds itself seven points adrift of league leaders Arsenal, and Slot acknowledged the necessity for his squad to execute the “right things” to close the gap in the title race.

“We were actually very consistent, but the thing is we were consistent in losing,” Slot stated during a press conference prior to the upcoming match against Manchester City. “We need to focus on being consistent in our performance. Manchester City presents one of the toughest challenges of the season when playing away, and it is indeed an exciting game to anticipate.”

The Dutch manager added, “Before my tenure here, while I was in the Netherlands, I was always aware of when Manchester City faced Liverpool, and I can assure you that I was 100% in front of the television for those matches. These are the encounters everyone looks forward to.”

Slot emphasized, “My primary focus is on our team and maintaining consistency. We have endured several losses—more than what is customary for us—but we have now secured two victories. Our priority remains on improvement and getting our players fit, and we will see where that leads us.”

Additionally, Liverpool may welcome back striker Alexander Isak for the match against City, as he is expected to resume team training on Friday after recovering from a groin injury.

“He will train with the team for the first time today after three weeks away,” Slot mentioned. “I stated three weeks ago that his pre-season had concluded, and it is time for us to assess his condition. However, I have to reiterate that three weeks of rehabilitation does not equate to the physical condition he was in prior to his injury. While our team has performed admirably, rehab cannot be measured against actual matches or training sessions, so we must allow him some time to readjust.”