Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has exuded a sense of calm confidence as his side prepares to host Aston Villa in a vital Premier League fixture this weekend. Despite a troubling run in recent weeks, Slot remains steadfast in his belief that his squad has the quality, resilience, and belief to turn their fortunes around.
The Reds arrive at the match with five defeats from seven games across all competitions, a worrying slump for the defending champions. However, Slot insists that the pressure has not altered his mindset nor the underlying conviction within the dressing room.
“If you lose five out of six… the pressure is there and I don’t think it has changed much after this loss,” Slot said. He added, “I am completely happy with the team and with all the quality that we have and I am also completely convinced by the strategy and the policy that we have.”
Indeed, with the likes of first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker and striker Alexander Isak sidelined through injury, Liverpool face an uphill task. Slot acknowledged their absences but refused to treat them as excuses for recent stumbles.
“We miss nothing,” he asserted. “When three or four are injured you go back to 16 players… Maybe last season we were more lucky and now we are more unlucky. But no excuses for our results.”
Slot’s refusal to capitulate to external pressure is underscored by his optimism about the forthcoming contest with Aston Villa, a side themselves in good form. The Dutchman clearly expects his team to rise to the occasion, emphasising that the current run is not reflective of the deeper potential in his squad.
“The thing that gives me the most confidence is the quality of the players we have and the amount of chances these players are still creating,” he said ahead of the clash. “This will eventually always lead to these players scoring more goals than we’ve done until now.”
That belief is crucial given Liverpool’s status as title-defending champions and the need to arrest this slide in results. Slot is acutely aware that facing Aston Villa at home presents both an opportunity and a stern test.
Villa, following a run of domestic wins, will be travelling with confidence and momentum. Yet Slot’s message to his players and supporters remains consistent: stay calm, focus on the fundamentals, trust in the process.
Slot also made a point of acknowledging the support of the Liverpool faithful. Even in adversity, he believes that the connection between the squad and the supporters can help drive a response.
“The thing that gives me the feeling that Saturday when our players will show how much it means to them, our fans will be incredibly supportive for us Saturday,” he said after their mid-week defeat. In doing so, he emphasised that while results have not gone their way, the unity between the club and fanbase remains strong.
In terms of preparation, Slot has indicated that while several players remain unavailable, there may be positive news on the fitness front, particularly with midfielder Ryan Gravenberch nearing a return. Still, the challenge remains steep.
He described the accumulation of injuries and a reduced pre-season for some players as factors that have made consistency harder to maintain this term. Yet again, he refused to offer excuses for the outcomes.