After a crushing 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, Arne Slot stated Liverpool should not consider themselves in the Premier League title race, emphasizing the need to focus on consistent results to improve their current eighth-place standing.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has emphatically dismissed any immediate talk of a Premier League title challenge following the club’s comprehensive 3-0 defeat to rivals Manchester City on Sunday.
The loss at the Etihad Stadium, Slot’s heaviest since taking charge, starkly confirmed the team’s current slump, which has seen them lose five of their last six league fixtures.
According to Liverpool.com reporting, the Dutch coach delivered a candid and sober assessment, admitting his side must drastically improve its performance and consistency before setting any lofty targets.
Slot was unequivocal when asked about the title race in the post-match press conference. “The last thing I should think about now is the title race,” he confirmed to reporters.
Having dropped to eighth place, eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal, the manager insisted that the current focus must be on foundational improvements.
“We should first focus on getting results, result and result after result, before we can even think about that.
The reality is we are eighth now, one team is quite far ahead, although City is four points away from Arsenal. The rest is quite close.”
Despite the discouraging gap, Slot maintained a long-term perspective. “I said last season many times, even when we were leading, the best way to judge the league table is after 38 [games],” he added, suggesting that while the title is currently out of reach, the immediate priority is to use the international break to regroup and prepare for a necessary fight back up the table.
The humbling defeat leaves Slot with significant work to do to lift the team’s standards.