Arne Slot: Liverpool ‘close to perfection’ against Man City… but boss bemoans missed chances

Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to nine points after a commanding 2-0 victory against Manchester City. This win marks a remarkable start for Arne Slot, who has expressed his surprise at how well the team is performing under his management.

Cody Gakpo opened the scoring for the Reds in a dominant first-half performance, paving the way for their sixth consecutive win. Mohamed Salah later sealed the game with a late penalty, contributing to Liverpool’s impressive form as they remain unbeaten in 14 of their last 15 outings.

“I don’t think anyone, including me, would have predicted this start,” Slot stated in a post-match interview. “I knew Jurgen Klopp left the team in a good place. However, competing against strong teams like Arsenal and City means we cannot take anything for granted.”

Manchester City, now aiming for their fifth consecutive league title, have faced a challenging period, marking their fourth consecutive defeat in the league. In past seasons, they would have topped the table for seven straight years if not for Liverpool’s standout campaign in 2019/20.

Slot, who took over the reins from Klopp after the latter’s nine-year tenure concluded at the end of the last season, lauded his team’s performance but also highlighted areas for improvement. “The number of chances we missed made the game tense towards the end,” he remarked, reflecting on Salah’s missed one-on-one opportunity that could have sealed the match earlier.

“It would have been nice to score the second goal sooner,” Slot continued. “Ideally, the second half would mirror the first. However, to beat Manchester City, you must be near perfect in every aspect of the game.”

Despite the tense finish, Slot felt his team came “close to perfection.” He acknowledged the challenges City poses, particularly with their expertise in build-up play. “Our players demonstrated great energy today, and the crowd’s support was phenomenal,” he pointed out.

As Liverpool looks ahead, they will face two crucial away games in the coming week, starting with a trip to Newcastle on Wednesday and a visit to Everton on Saturday. “We are a cohesive team, and it is hard to overcome us,” Slot said, emphasizing the need for continued effort despite the injury challenges they currently face. Trent Alexander-Arnold had to be substituted, which Slot deemed necessary to avoid risking further injury.

“Every team faces challenges throughout a season,” Slot noted. “Next week will present another significant hurdle for us to overcome.”

As the season progresses, the performance of Liverpool under Arne Slot will be watched closely, as they aim to maintain their position and compete fiercely for the Premier League title.