In statements characterized by extreme realism and candor towards the fans, Liverpool's manager, Dutchman Arne Slot, laid out a clear roadmap for the remainder of the current season's competitions, specifying three main priorities that the team seeks to achieve, while completely ruling out the idea of competing for the English Premier League title in light of the current points gap.
Liverpool are going through a delicate transitional period this season, currently sitting sixth in the table with 42 points after 26 rounds, a full 15 points behind leaders Arsenal. This situation has prompted the Dutch manager to reshuffle the squad and focus on achievable goals to salvage the season and ensure the club's sporting and financial stability.
Liverpool's roadmap: 3 non-negotiable goals
During the pre-match press conference ahead of the FA Cup fourth-round clash with Brighton, Slot was unequivocal in outlining his objectives. The Dutch manager stated, "We have three clear priorities this season: to seriously compete for the FA Cup title, to secure Champions League qualification for next season by finishing in the top four, and to go as far as possible in our current European campaign.".
These goals are of paramount strategic importance to the club; qualifying for the Champions League is a key pillar for maintaining the club’s financial resources and its ability to attract stars in the summer transfer market, while winning the FA Cup represents an opportunity to avoid a trophyless season and to delight the fans with a prestigious domestic title.
The dilemma of set pieces: the difference between local and continental competitions
In a detailed technical analysis of the reasons for the team's domestic decline compared to its European success, Slott highlighted a tactical aspect that often decides big matches: set pieces. He explained that there is a strange discrepancy in his team's performance, as they lead the statistics for set-piece effectiveness in the Champions League, while languishing at the bottom of the same statistic in the English Premier League.
Slot said: “I can’t stop talking about the importance of set pieces; it’s obvious every day. I’ve been asked repeatedly about the difference between our performances in the Champions League and the Premier League, and the simplest answer is set pieces. This disparity is directly reflected in the league table.” The manager pointed out that the Premier League this season relies on set pieces more than ever before compared to previous seasons, making any weakness in this area extremely costly.
Why has the league become "impossible"?
Slot concluded with a realistic assessment of the team's league chances, emphasizing that winning the title requires a comprehensive system that doesn't rely solely on open play. He added, "It's impossible to win the Premier League title if your set-piece performance is like ours now. To compete, you need a positive goal difference of 5, 8, or even 10 goals from set pieces, regardless of your performance in open play.".
These statements are intended to put an end to speculation and relieve pressure on the players regarding the league race, directing their focus, physical and mental effort towards the European cups and seats, in an attempt to finish the season in the best possible way.
