LIVERPOOL (ENGLAND) – “We’re not lacking anything. I’m completely satisfied with the squad and with all the quality we have. I’m also fully convinced about the strategy and the policy we’ve adopted. But the issue – if we can call it that – is that we have players who didn’t have a proper pre-season or have been hit by injuries.”
That’s how Arne Slot tried to explain Liverpool’s current slump. After a lavish transfer window and an excellent start to the campaign, the Reds have lost their way – six defeats in their last seven games across all competitions have seen them slip to seventh place, seven points behind leaders Arsenal, and out of the EFL Cup.
Before the international break, a tough run of fixtures awaits: Aston Villa, Real Madrid and Manchester City. “I firmly believe that 20 or 21 players are enough, but you have to keep them fit, as we managed to do last season,” the Dutch coach said. “This year we’re struggling a bit more in that regard, and Isak is a good example. Some players missed pre-season or picked up knocks during it, and when you lose three or four players to injury, the burden always falls on the same ones. Maybe last year we were luckier, and this time a bit less so.”
“But I don’t want that to sound like an excuse for our results,” Slot added quickly. “We’ve had to play many away games with only two days of rest between them, and that would have been difficult even last season. It’s not a question of squad depth, but rather how the season has unfolded in terms of injuries and player availability.”
When asked about the possibility of a contract renewal, Slot was clear: “My only focus is on bringing Liverpool back to winning ways. And even if there were contract talks, I wouldn’t discuss them here. The main goal is to start winning again – that’s all that matters.”
– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
