Arne Slot has recently addressed the growing pressure on his Liverpool team, acknowledging that it’s simply unrealistic to expect “fantastic football” every match.
This statement came in light of some less-than-convincing performances from his side, including a draw with Everton and a narrow victory over Wolves.
Recent Struggles and the Road Ahead
As Liverpool heads to Villa Park to face Aston Villa on Wednesday, they’re looking to bounce back from a slight dip in form.
A win in this match would see them extend their lead at the top of the Premier League by 10 points.
However, their recent results have raised questions—especially after an unexpected FA Cup exit to Plymouth, a dramatic 2-2 draw with Everton, and a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Wolves at Anfield.
If Liverpool fails to win against Villa, Arsenal could close the gap to just four points with a win over West Ham, making the next few fixtures even more crucial.
Liverpool will then face a daunting challenge against Manchester City, just 24 hours after their trip to Villa Park.
Arne Slot’s Calm Perspective Despite Setbacks
Despite the challenges, Slot remains calm and measured.
Even though he faces potential FA punishment for a confrontation with referee Michael Oliver during the Everton game, he insists that he’s not fazed by the pressure.
Reflecting on his experience winning a league title with Feyenoord, Slot shared a key lesson: it’s impossible to play perfect football in every match.
“Good teams, exceptional teams, they play about 20-25 top-level games in a season, with a few mediocre performances and sometimes a few bad ones,” Slot explained.
“But when you’re mediocre, it’s about grinding out results, especially in those games, because you’ll win the ones where you perform well.”
He emphasized that no team—whether it’s Liverpool, Manchester City, or Chelsea—can maintain a high level of performance across all 38 matches of a season.
Managing Fatigue and Injuries Heading into Villa Match
Liverpool’s performance against Wolves was notably impacted by fatigue, according to Slot.
The team had just come off an intense Merseyside derby and struggled to regain their sharpness, especially in the second half where they failed to register a shot on target.
“We weren’t at our best, but I saw the same work rate from the players, especially against Everton where the game played out their way,” he said, referring to their recent challenges in maintaining consistency.
Liverpool will also be without key players for the Villa match.
Curtis Jones returns after serving a suspension, but both Cody Gakpo and Joe Gomez remain sidelined.
Gomez, in particular, faces a lengthy recovery due to a hamstring injury that may require surgery.
A New Challenge at Villa Park and the Threat of Rashford
Villa, unbeaten at home since August, present another tough challenge.
The team has been boosted by the arrival of Marcus Rashford, who joined on loan from Manchester United in January after falling out of favor under manager Ruben Amorim.
Slot has spoken highly of Rashford’s potential, noting, “If he plays to his ability, he’s one of the best attackers England has.”
Slot remembers facing Rashford during pre-season and was impressed by his speed, skill, and physicality.
He expressed surprise that a player of Rashford’s quality wouldn’t succeed at Villa, given the right conditions.
Looking Ahead to the Remaining Fixtures
With tough away games coming up, Liverpool will have to focus on taking one match at a time.
However, after this round of difficult fixtures, seven out of their remaining 11 games will be at Anfield, which could provide an advantage in their push to retain their position at the top of the league.
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