Arne Slot downplays Liverpool’s unbeaten away EPL record ahead of West Ham trip
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Liverpool manager Arne Slot believes that the Reds are a strong team both at home and away.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Runaway English Premier League leaders Liverpool, who head to West Ham United on Dec 29, have yet to lose on the road this season but Arne Slot attributed that record to the calibre of teams they have faced.
The Reds, who are six points clear at the top, have won six and drawn two of their eight away games but their manager downplayed such statistics.
“Our away form has been good but maybe it has a bit to do with the teams we faced in the first half of the season,” Slot said. “Mainly we faced the teams at the top half of the table at home and the other ones we faced away, so that might have something to do with it.
“But we are a strong team away from home and at home as well. I don’t see any reason why we are stronger away, but we can best judge at the end of the season once we have played every team home and away to see what fits us best.”
Their away results include a 3-0 win over Manchester United, a 6-3 trouncing of Tottenham Hotspur and draws with Arsenal (2-2) and Newcastle United (3-3).
The Reds have lost just one game, 1-0 at home to Nottingham Forest in September, with Slot overseeing a seamless transition after taking over from Jurgen Klopp.
The Dutchman insisted that his team’s commanding position at the top has led to no extra strain during his first season in charge at Anfield.
“If we are one, two, three, four or five in the table, if you work at a big club like Liverpool, there is always pressure,” the 46-year-old said.
“It’s not so strange for a club like us to be top of the league but we know how many good teams there are in this league and they are able to win almost every game as well.”
Slot will be without the suspended Dominik Szoboszlai for the trip to West Ham, while Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley remain injured ahead of Liverpool’s final fixture of 2024.
Meanwhile, club captain Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been linked with moves away when their contracts run out at the end of the season but Slot remained tight-lipped on their future.
He did, however, heap praise on van Dijk’s contribution to the team as the defender has had an outstanding season.
“He has been a tremendous player, such a great player for Liverpool for so many years,” he said. “He is the vocal leader of this team, every time we start an exercise he is on top of his teammates and he leads by example.
“He has been outstanding until now and we can only hope he can continue showing this during the games and in the training sessions as long as he’s with us.”
While Liverpool are flying high, champions Manchester City continue to struggle, but defender Manuel Akanji believes their midweek 1-1 draw with Everton could spark a revival in form.
The result left City with just one win in 13 games in all competitions since October, with Pep Guardiola’s side now 14 points adrift of Liverpool.
“When you compare it (the Everton draw) to the other matches, we played really well from the first minute to the last,” said Swiss international Akanji.
“We tried to play offensive football, but they (Everton) basically scored out of nowhere. We did enough to win the match but it didn’t turn our way.”
City are next in action at struggling Leicester City on Dec 29.
“We need to keep on working for the next opportunity,” added Akanji. “I still believe that we will come back to the way we used to play – it will come sooner or later.” REUTERS, AFP
