Arne Slot gives blunt verdict on Liverpool's season so far and what must happen next - 'No excuse'

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This run has propelled the Reds to fifth place in the table, but Slot is acutely aware of the significant improvements that still need to be made in 2026.READ MORE: 3 Liverpool players to watch in 2026 including Hugo Ekitike and Steven Gerrard-like starREAD MORE: How Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and 10 others have fared since Liverpool summer transfer exits"For me we are in the position we deserve after the first half of the season," Slot stated, via the Liverpool Echo."I think we should be higher, let that be clear, I was expecting and hoping for us to be even higher in the league table. But even in the last six games, the difference between us and the other team is constantly too small."Now we have been a few times a little bit lucky with the result and we need to find a situation where we are so much better than the other team that luck or bad luck does not influence it anymore.

I think the games we have lost were unlucky.Arne Slot has had a much more difficult second season after winning the Premier League title in his first with Liverpool(Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)"The referees and set-pieces have had an incredible impact on the start of our season, but we should not have that as an excuse."That is luck or bad luck. We need to make sure like last season when a lot of decisions went against us as well but it didn't hurt us."Get LFC's 2025/26 season home and away kitsThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.

Learn moreFrom $100LFC.comSee the dealLiverpool's home and away strips for the 2025/26 season are the first in their new partnership with adidas.Fans can order jerseys in the US at Fanatics.com or via the LFC Online Store in both the US and across the world.Slot continued: "I have said many times players are getting fitter and fitter, not only the ones we have brought in but also the ones who missed out in pre-season and were a lot of time injured. That is completely normal if you just look at what has happened in the first half-year then I am not so surprised where we are."