Arne Slot Reflects on PSG Exit's Role in Liverpool's Title Triumph
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has offered a surprising perspective on last season's success, suggesting that the club's early Champions League elimination may have been a hidden blessing in their Premier League title charge. Speaking ahead of a crucial European fixture, Slot acknowledged that while the reduced fixture load helped secure a historic 20th league championship, his current squad must address glaring issues to repeat that feat.
Defensive Concerns Mount After Bournemouth Defeat
The Dutch coach's comments come after Liverpool's 13-game unbeaten run ended dramatically at Bournemouth, with the reigning champions slipping to sixth place in the Premier League table. Virgil van Dijk's visible frustration with officials during the 3-2 defeat highlighted growing tensions within the squad as defensive vulnerabilities resurface.
Slot was particularly critical of his team's performance in both penalty areas, describing their current combination of wastefulness in attack and fragility in defence as "a very bad cocktail". With key defenders Ibrahima Konaté and Joe Gomez unavailable for Wednesday's Champions League clash against Qarabag, these concerns have taken on added urgency.
Champions League Progress Offers Contrasting Narrative
Despite domestic struggles, Liverpool's European form presents a brighter picture. Victory against Qarabag at Anfield would guarantee progression to the Champions League knockout stages, offering some respite from Premier League pressures. However, Slot remains focused on the bigger picture, emphasising that improvement must come across all competitions.
"It's impossible to shut down the noise at a club like this if you are not competing for the league," Slot admitted, acknowledging the heightened expectations surrounding one of England's most successful clubs. His analysis of last season's triumph provides context for current challenges, suggesting that squad depth and recovery time between matches play crucial roles in sustained success.
The Fixture Congestion Conundrum
Slot elaborated on his controversial theory about last season's PSG exit, noting: "This is not going to be a popular opinion but maybe the reason we won the league last season is that we had to play Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16, because they beat us and we had every time a full week to prepare for our next game."
Statistics support his concerns about fixture congestion, with Liverpool having lost four away Premier League matches this season following midweek Champions League commitments. The manager believes this pattern demonstrates how injuries and fatigue have depleted his resources, making consistent performances increasingly difficult to maintain.
A Clear Path Forward for Liverpool
Slot outlined a straightforward prescription for turning around Liverpool's season: "If we improve in both boxes, I think we are able to win something this season. If we only improve in one box, it is going to be really difficult to win something this season. And if we can't improve in both boxes, there is going to be a lot of noise throughout the whole season."
The manager's assessment highlights several key areas for improvement:
- Clinical finishing in attacking situations
- Reducing defensive errors that lead to opposition chances
- Managing squad rotation amid fixture congestion
- Maintaining focus across multiple competitions
With Andy Robertson expected to remain at Anfield for the remainder of the season, Slot will need to maximise his available resources while addressing fundamental weaknesses that have emerged during recent matches. The coming weeks will test whether Liverpool can implement their manager's vision and mount a serious challenge for silverware on multiple fronts.
