Liverpool are at the top of the Premier League, at the top of the Champions League and yet Arne Slot is thinking about the improvements to come.
There are few concerns that the Dutchman is resting on his laurels after a sensational start to life on Merseyside. His players are not allowed to do that either. Liverpool are four points ahead in the Premier League and are on their way to the last sixteen of the European Cup.
They also have a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Southampton next month. Mo Salah was one of the driving forces this season. He scored sixteen goals (thirteen of which in the league) and provided twelve assists.
Virgil van Dijk was brilliant at the back, Ryan Gravenberch was a revelation in midfield as number 6 and the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones flourished. But there could be more to come from someone like Dominik Szoboszlai, now that Harvey Elliott is fit again and in the squad, and from Diogo Jota, and we still haven't seen what Federico Chiesa will bring.
“We're not flying, but we're doing well.” Slot said, once again dampening the excitement surrounding their stunning start. “I think there can be more from the players in the team than we have shown so far. But I think that's something every manager feels. The longer you work with a team, the better you start to play and the more they get used to playing together.
“But that doesn't just apply to us, it probably applies to a few other teams too, because more can come from that. We really believe we can… Okay, there are a few where it might not be that easy to get more out of them individually – but as a team we can do better and more can definitely come from a few individuals . also because of their age.
“And that is the positive thing about the team I inherited. Most of them are still quite young and the best years are normally still to come.”
As the players return to fitness, it will also be about managing the minutes for Slot – whose side face Fulham on Saturday – in a busy fixture list.
“Although these players have done very well and sometimes that is the challenge we have now, when all the players are available, they still have to accept their role,” he said. “And that's something we talk about a lot with the players. But so far I have absolutely no complaints about it.
“So everyone is very positive and tries to get the best out of the team, but the more players are available, the more difficult the choices become.
“But in a season where it was Harvey, it was Alisson, and it was Jota [injured] so hopefully they're all available now for the rest of the season, but probably that [a fully fit squad] will never happen, that's why we need players like Harvey and Wataru [Endo]all these players, for the second half of the season, because there will come a time when we will definitely need them.”
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