Arne Slot’s post-championship Liverpool are certainly a work in progress. Liverpool are starting to get results again after a difficult six weeks. The Reds are unbeaten in six games and have won three games in a row after beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in London on Saturday. Things are definitely looking up.
However, there is still a lot of work to be done for Slot. Speaking to reporters after the game, the Dutchman was keen to point out that while things were improving, the team was not yet at a level where they could rest on any laurels.
“Of course we are happy [the result moving Liverpool closer to the top four]. But when we started the season, I wasn’t excited and completely happy when we were in the top four. We always strive for the best results and after a good start we were disappointed with the subsequent results. But I think you’ve said it, we’re probably tied on points in the top four right now, I don’t quite know. But don’t forget that in the Champions League we played well in a very difficult draw. I’ve seen a lot of teams barely score, but we haven’t faced them yet. So, I think things are never as bad as people say, but we’re definitely not perfect yet. But we knew that when we made so many changes in the summer, it’s going to take time. Maybe because we won the first five or six games, everyone thought it was going to be easy. But as a club, ownership, Richard [Hughes]Michael [Edwards]Everyone else knew that change could, could, and probably would bring different results – and that proved to be true. “
Liverpool’s victory helped them move up to fifth place, a position they look likely to retain throughout the weekend. This is a big improvement as Liverpool have been mid-table in the table and were even slightly below mid-table throughout November. Now, the team is clearly starting to record results and serve as a reminder of how good this team is.
advertise
But even with a looser schedule and improved games, it won’t be all plain sailing for the Reds given a deep injury list and a team that essentially needs to continue to score top points to make up for the ground they’ve lost during their collective slump in form. When it came to the injuries to Connor Bradley and Alexander Isak, Sloter emphasized that he had not had a chance to contact Isak, noting that he had a feeling it wouldn’t be good news.
“I don’t have any news about him, but if a player scores a goal and then gets injured and then doesn’t come back on the pitch and doesn’t try to come back… Conor Bradley, for example, did that, but I also had to take him off because he couldn’t go on, but if a player doesn’t even try to come back, it’s usually not a good thing. But I can’t say more, it’s just [a] intuition. Medically there is nothing to say. “
Liverpool will have a week to try and see if they can get some guys closer to full fitness. Especially Joe Gomez, whose return would be helpful if Connor Bradley is out. Of course, everyone on the training ground is hoping that Alexander Isak won’t be away from the team for too long.
Still, even with these challenges, Liverpool will still be gunning for three points. Hopefully next week Slaughter and company can bring back a post-holiday gift for all the Reds.
