Some see it when Liverpool starts to wiggle, but Arne Slot does not believe it is something special.
In fact, it is something that the Dutch boss believes that even the large Manchester City side under Pep Guardiola suffered on the way to four titles in a row. That is not perfect for 38 games per season. There will be more than a few bad versions.
The Reds go to Aston Villa on the back of demonstrably two of their worst displays of the season, as well as a shock FA Cup output to Plymouth with a much changed side. Of course it should be noted that the side of Slot came from those matches against Everton and Wolves with four points.
Only a week ago they were six points free from Arsenal. With two games less to play in the Premier League, they are seven clearly. This is hardly a crisis or a kind of crash. Due to high standards this season, there has been a clear drop in the last two league onions.
Liverpool managed only four shots on goal for 90 minutes against Everton in a 2-2 draw, while they did not succeed in registering a single attempt on goal in the second half against Wolves on Sunday despite winning 2-1.
Players such as Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, two who have been excellent the entire season, also looked under their best. But Slot, Die Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title led in 2023, remains calm about the situation while preparing for a villa side that is looking for their hope to qualify for the Champions League again.
“What I have learned, if there is some experience I have learned about winning a competition title, is generally in a season when there are 38 games to play, don't expect you to have 38 times fantastic football,” he said ..
“If you are a very good team and a very special team, you play 20-25, very good games, then you play a few mediocre and play a few very bad ones. But it is more about the results in the mediocre or bad than the 20-25 because they are those that you will probably win. It is normal in a season that it is not 38 times the best football ever played.
“Not in the history of Liverpool, not in the four years, the city won the competition and not this time with us, or Arsenal, or City, or Chelsea. We all have a certain number of games that we play very well and because we have Have done that to play so many games, you can't expect that every time to play every opponent. “
Liverpool needs a revival of performance this week if they want to keep their lead over Arsenal. Because, as good as Everton have been in their revival under Moyes and the threat of Matheus Cunha with wolves, this is a step higher in the opponent while confronted with Villa and Manchester City in the room of four days.
Then there will be Newcastle on Anfield next Wednesday to make it three huge competitions in eight days. “I am indeed calm, except perhaps on the minute after we admitted the 2-2 [against Everton]”Said Slot.
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