Even though Liverpool is “not flying” at the top of the Premier League table, Arne Slot thinks his team can only grow better.
The Reds are four points ahead of Chelsea in the Premier League.
The game is in hand on the slot’s side as well.
WHAT OCCURRED?
With a game left to play, Slot’s Reds are four points ahead of Chelsea in second position in the Premier League, having been in outstanding form so far this season. Slot insists that he is expecting more from his team as the months go by, despite the fact that their sole league setback this season occurred against Nottingham Forest in September.
THE LARGER IMAGE
Slot has praised the club’s young players’ chances and asserted that the Reds are “doing well” but denied that they are “flying” since he thinks they can find alternative equipment. Slot has disclosed that he is extremely close to making a comeback, but the Dutchman has yet to witness the best of summer addition Federico Chiesa, who is injured.
ARNE SLOT’S COMMENTS
“We’re not flying, but we’re doing well,” Slot told reporters. I believe that the players have more to offer the team than we have demonstrated thus far. However, I believe that every manager experiences that.
The more you practice as a team, the more proficient you become and the more accustomed they become to playing together.
However, that isn’t just for us; it’s likely the same for a few other teams as well, and they have more in store. We genuinely think we can… Well, some people may be difficult to pull more out of on their own, but when we work together, we can do more, and there is undoubtedly more to be gained from a select few people, especially given their advanced age.
The good thing about the team I inherited is that the most of them are still relatively young, so their greatest years are typically yet to come.
Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot has provided an update on the recovery of winger Federico Chiesa.
“Federico has missed quite a bit over a long period, and he was ill last week, so we need to wait and see how he is doing. Perhaps Jota will be available, and maybe Chiesa as well, but it depends on the numbers we have, as well as how much he has recovered from his illness.
Chiesa’s situation is complicated by the fact that we are playing so many matches. He needs game time, and the challenge is that if you haven’t played for five or six months, it can sometimes be difficult for the coach to give you those first minutes because you don’t really know what to expect.
The game against Southampton might be a good opportunity for him to get some playing time, and then we will know a little better what we can expect from him.
Of course, we know his qualities, we see his qualities, but he needs to regain his physical fitness. Training alone is not the same as match time. You need time to reach a certain level of fitness.
If you are battling in the Premier League and competing in the Champions League, it’s not always easy to find those minutes, unless occasionally we are leading 4-0 or 5-0. I think that has only happened once all season,” Slot is quoted by the club’s press service.
Slot has had to make some adjustments to his attacking line selection because Jota and Chiesa have both been out for months.
While Mohamed Salah has played in every game, the head coach has alternated Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, and Darwin Nunez because only four senior forwards are healthy.
However, Jota and Chiesa have resumed full training this week as Liverpool’s medical staff monitors their recuperation. Slot stated during his pregame press conference that they may both make a comeback against Fulham.
Slot will be more cautious after Chiesa is introduced, but Jota is anticipated to return to the game right away, initially as a bench option.
The Italian missed the Champions League trip to Girona because of illness, but he did play an hour in the U21s’ 4-3 loss to Nordsjaelland at the start of the month.
That was definitely a setback, but Liverpool will take all the necessary precautions because of his lengthy injury layoff and lack of Juventus preseason.
Speaking about his recuperation process, Slot acknowledged how challenging it would be to get Chiesa back into such a demanding schedule, but he hinted that he might make a comeback on Wednesday night against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.
UP NEXT?
Liverpool will try to increase their lead at the top of the Premier League when they meet Fulham at Anfield on Saturday.
Premier League
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | PTS | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 29 | 11 | 18 | 35 | DWWWW | |
| 2 | Chelsea | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 35 | 18 | 17 | 31 | WWWWD | |
| 3 | Arsenal | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 29 | 15 | 14 | 29 | DWWWD | |
| 9 | Brentford | 15 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 31 | 28 | 3 | 23 | WLWDW | |
| 10 | Fulham | 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 22 | 20 | 2 | 23 | DWDLW | |
| 11 | Tottenham | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 31 | 19 | 12 | 20 | LLDWL |
