Arne Slot plays down Liverpool’s title credentials after comeback draw at Arsenal

LONDON – Liverpool manager Arne Slot continued to temper expectations of his side after a hard-fought 2-2 draw at Arsenal on Oct 27, though he hailed the Reds’ fighting spirit after twice going behind.

After a record-breaking start to life at Anfield, winning 11 of Slot’s opening 12 games in all competitions, Liverpool recorded their first draw of the season in a pulsating encounter at the Emirates Stadium.

Slot, who has repeatedly said it is too early in the campaign to pass judgment on his side, returned to his familiar theme after snatching a late point.

“I know you guys (the media) like to talk about title contenders and where we are exactly in the league – and that’s also part of your job,” he said.

“The only thing I look at is: Can you get a result in a difficult away game like this one?

“The way we did it pleased me a lot... to see that we can compete with such a strong Arsenal team in their stadium, that is very pleasing to see.

“But where that exactly will lead towards the end of the season, I cannot tell you yet.”

Mohamed Salah’s 81st-minute equaliser put Liverpool in second place, a point behind champions Manchester City, with Arsenal five points off the top in third.

Bukayo Saka, on his return from injury, gave Arsenal the lead in the ninth minute when he ran on to Ben White’s ball over the top, cut inside Andy Robertson and fired past Caoimhin Kelleher at his near post for a 50th Premier League goal.

Virgil van Dijk, perhaps fortunate to avoid a card for a petulant kick at Kai Havertz in the opening exchanges, equalised nine minutes later, nodding home a Luis Diaz flick-on from a corner.

Mikel Merino scored his first Arsenal goal just before half-time, meeting Declan Rice’s free kick with a bullet header that was upheld after a lengthy video assistant referee review for offside.

Salah levelled the game with a calm tap-in from Darwin Nunez’s selfless cross, putting the Egyptian winger eighth on the all-time list and level with Robbie Fowler on 163 career Premier League goals.

Liverpool made the title a three-horse race for much of last season before falling away in the closing stages and their impressive recent form has raised the prospect they could mount a challenge for a second Premier League title.

“Going two times behind against a very strong and good Arsenal team, then to get a point is pleasing to see, especially because we had to play an away game in Europe this week, we had one day less to recover and to prepare,” added Slot.

The Dutchman picked up a second booking of the season to leave him one yellow card away from a touchline ban.

Slot had said he deserved the booking he received during the 2-1 win over Chelsea on Oct 20, but protested his innocence after receiving a card in the second half.

“They always fell down after they had ball possession, and that took the energy out of the game in my opinion, and I said to Ibou (Ibrahima Konate), ‘this is a f*****g joke,” Slot said.

“The fourth official thought that I said to him, ‘you are a f*****g joke’... that’s definitely not what I said, but I got a yellow for that. Now I’m on two (yellows), so I have to be careful now.” 

Mikel Arteta insisted injury-hit Arsenal will fight back in the title race after admitting their lack of “courage” was the decisive factor in the draw with Liverpool.

“The first half was total domination, the scoreline should have been bigger. But without giving anything away, we conceded two goals. That is the disappointing thing,” the Arsenal manager said.

“We were better by far, but we didn’t do a couple of things better in the second half, that’s why we didn’t win. We didn’t have courage. I’m more disappointed and frustrated by that.”

But Arsenal were hamstrung by second-half injuries to Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber, weakening an already understrength defence missing the suspended William Saliba and the injured Riccardo Calafiori.

On the injuries, Arteta said: “It is what it is. We had to adapt to it and we will continue to adapt to that.” REUTERS, AFP