Liverpool want to show they are Man City’s equals, Arne Slot says

The fortunes of Liverpool and Manchester City couldn't be further apart at the moment.

Few would have believed that Arne Slot would win around 17 of his first 19 games, while no one could have foreseen the predicament City would find themselves in.

Liverpool's dream start to the season continued this week, but it wasn't just any win. Beating Real Madrid on Wednesday night provided another one of those magical Anfield nights to retain top spot in the Champions League.

Conor Bradley's recovery tackle on Kylian Mbappe was as big a statement as beating Europe's reigning champions. Liverpool go into Sunday's showdown in good shape, full of momentum, confidence and belief.

However, Slot downplays expectations. In no way does he underestimate City's challenge, no matter how much the odds are in Liverpool's favour.

“We obviously want to be in this position, but we also know that City don't like it the way it is now. And when you've won the league four times in a row, that probably means it's a dangerous position for both of them.” teams.”

I asked him if this could be a dangerous weekend? He agreed.

“A dangerous weekend. They will want to show why they have won the competition four times in a row and we want to show that we can compete against them and that we want to be their competition. We have been their competition for a few years” They have has always been above us, except for one season. That's why this match, like Real Madrid's, is such a great match to look forward to.”

Slot spoke eighteen months ago during an interview about his admiration for Pep Guardiola. He told me how on Sunday evening he hoped Barcelona would be on TV so he could watch and delve into the mind of the serial winner and influential coach.

“Look at his record. It's not just about the trophies you win, it's also about the way you win them. It's about the way he makes his team play, the trophies he's won and the new things he brought to the game. He always adapted his playing style against the players he had.

“He comes up with new ideas, so every time the season starts you wonder, 'Okay? What has he come up with this season?' And that is interesting to follow if you are also in the game.

“He always finds a way to get the best out of his players. Now of course we all know that Rodri got injured, so now he has to find a new idea of ​​how to get the best out of the current players.”

“I'm sure this will work again and for me City were really unlucky in the last five or six games because I analyzed them. So I didn't just analyze their results, I also analyzed the way they played.” Against Tottenham they were able to score 2-3 after twenty minutes. Against Brighton they were 1-0 up and had chance after chance and then conceded two.

“Yes, the last match will probably never happen again in the history of football. That's a bit of an exaggeration, but it was the first time it happened, so that probably says it all.”

Even the best-looking City sides have struggled at Anfield and this is probably the worst game City are facing at the moment. Guardiola previewed the match by expressing his desire to rebuild his team; Liverpool have only dropped points twice in all competitions.

'I think the mix [of players] It's very good and it's great,” said Slot. “We assessed that from the beginning of the season, when everyone from the outside world was talking about us. We thought from the start that we had a great mix of characters and quality of players.

“It's a great mix of players who are doing really well at the moment. That's what we thought before we started this journey together. Me and [sporting director] Richard [Hughes] and the other people involved.

“So far it has worked out very well because we are in a good place, but we know how difficult the Premier League and the Champions League can be. Who would have thought that Manchester City would have achieved the results they achieved?

“Okay, the way they played was different to the results, but the results are there. We have to keep going because we have to make sure we keep these results as they are now.”

Doesn't it feel like a false position you're in? I asked. “No,” he replied.

It seems like more than five months ago that Slot first walked through the gates of the AXA Training Center in Kirkby. Those nerves from the first day quickly disappeared. 'I think we all do that [feel nervous] because everything is new to you. The building. The people. The players.

“But you can have nerves and still function well. I feel much more at ease, much more comfortable than I did on my first day.”

Functioning in the right way, they have that. Liverpool certainly don't look like a team that needs much reassurance.