Liverpool’s leaders are gearing up for a crucial match against Arsenal this Sunday, and in an exclusive interview, head coach Arne Slot emphasized the importance of improving the team’s away performance against top Premier League sides to secure the title.
As Liverpool prepares to visit Arsenal, a victory would create a seven-point gap over Mikel Arteta’s team, and Slot is keenly aware of the impact last season’s away results against rivals had on their title challenge. His analysis reveals that Jürgen Klopp’s squad managed only seven points from a possible 21 against the top eight last season, with their only win against Newcastle amidst a contentious loss to Tottenham. In contrast, Manchester City and Arsenal racked up 11 and nine points respectively in similar fixtures.
Reflecting on the past, Slot noted, “Last season there was a seven-point difference between Arsenal and Liverpool. The home match ended in a 1-1 draw, but Arsenal won the away game. If we had turned that away loss into a win, the margin would have been just one point. That’s why games against our competitors are crucial, possibly even more so than others.”
While he acknowledges that results against the top eight won’t singlehandedly determine the title winner, he insists these matches are a telling indicator of a team’s championship potential. “It’s overly simplistic to say winning those games would have changed the league table. To do so, especially in the toughest matches, you need a certain quality,” Slot explained. “To win the league, you need a lot of points, and you must secure wins in tough away games against teams like Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Arsenal.”
Slot will once again be without injured players Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa, and Alisson for the Arsenal match. He discussed a tactical adjustment regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role this season, where the full-back has been less involved in midfield. “This is part of our strategy for advancing the ball,” he shared. “Sometimes we deploy an inverted full-back, or we attract the press differently to create space in the midfield.”
He added, “If the opposition presses us with a nine and a ten, we already have an advantage in midfield. There’s no need to overload that area. Mo [Salah] benefits when Trent overlaps, which is advantageous for us. He has the capability to impact the game both inside and out; for instance, he made a crucial contribution to our second goal against Chelsea.”
In other news, Liverpool’s long-time director of scouting and recruitment, Dave Fallows, has announced his departure from the club. After 12 years with Liverpool, Fallows played a pivotal role in assembling the squad that achieved significant successes under Klopp, including the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup titles.
In his statement, Fallows expressed, “The leadership here is world-class, from ownership down to the coaching staff and academy director. I’m confident they will continue to succeed. I will miss working alongside great colleagues, especially Barry Hunter and the recruitment team, but I’m excited to leave knowing the club is in excellent shape.”
Edwards, the chief executive of football at Fenway Sports Group, praised Fallows, saying, “Dave has been a trusted colleague and a close friend. I respect his decision and wish him success in his future endeavors. He and his family will always have a home here after his immense contributions, and he will be missed.”
