Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has suggested that the club’s early exit from the Champions League last season may have played an understated but decisive role in securing the Premier League title, while warning that significant improvement at both ends of the pitch is essential if silverware is to be won this campaign.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League group-stage match against Qarabag at Anfield on Wednesday, Slot reflected candidly on the physical and tactical demands of competing on multiple fronts. Liverpool, who are guaranteed a place in the last 16 with a win against the Azerbaijani side, enter the match under renewed scrutiny after their 13-game unbeaten run came to an abrupt end with a defeat at Bournemouth. That loss left the reigning champions languishing in sixth place in the Premier League.
Slot acknowledged the growing external pressure but insisted that the lessons of last season remain relevant. Liverpool were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16 in March, losing on penalties to the eventual European champions. At the time, they held a commanding 15-point lead in the league with nine matches remaining.
“This might not be a popular view,” Slot admitted, “but perhaps the reason we won the league last season was because PSG knocked us out. From that point on, we had a full week to prepare for every league match. That made a difference.”
He added that while every manager naturally wants a large squad to cope with the congestion of fixtures, there is no denying the benefit of reduced workload. “The bigger the squad, the better equipped you are to fight on all fronts,” he said, “but fewer games can also give you an edge.”
This season, Liverpool’s European commitments appear to have taken a physical toll. The club have lost four away league matches following midweek Champions League fixtures, reinforcing Slot’s view that fatigue and injuries have stretched his resources. Defensive options will again be limited against Qarabag, with Ibrahima Konaté absent following the death of his father and Joe Gomez sidelined through injury. Andy Robertson, however, is expected to remain available for the remainder of the season.
Liverpool Squad Availability vs Qarabag
| Player | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Ibrahima Konaté | Unavailable | Bereavement |
| Joe Gomez | Unavailable | Injury |
| Andy Robertson | Available | Fully fit |
| Virgil van Dijk | Available | No issues reported |
Slot was particularly critical of Liverpool’s performance at Bournemouth, where defensive lapses and poor finishing proved costly. “Between the two boxes, we are a very good team,” he said. “But football matches are decided in the boxes. If we create chances, we must be more clinical. At the other end, opponents reach our box only a few times, but too often that leads to a clear chance or even a goal. That’s a dangerous mix.”
The Dutch coach stressed that marginal improvement would not be enough. “If we improve in both boxes, I believe we can still win something this season,” he said. “If we improve in only one, it will be extremely difficult. And if we don’t improve at all, there will be constant noise around this club.”
For a club of Liverpool’s stature, Slot accepts that scrutiny is inevitable. What matters now, he insists, is turning lessons into results—both domestically and in Europe—before the season slips irreversibly out of reach.