Arne Slot sends message to Arsenal and Manchester City and makes Champions League vow
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.
Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballArne SlotThe Liverpool boss was speaking ahead of his side's Champions League last-16 tie at Galatasaray on Tuesday eveningArne Slot admits Liverpool have not been "able to compete" with Arsenal and Manchester City this season, and concedes it will be difficult to do so again in the next campaign if the Reds are not in the Champions League.Having come into the season as many people's favourites to secure the league title for what would have been a second successive season, the Reds have instead become embroiled in a battle for a top five finish with Aston Villa, Manchester United and Chelsea.Slot says Liverpool "always knew" they would have a tough campaign after a summer of high profile arrivals and departures, with the intensity of the English top-flight proving tough for a new-look squad to adjust to."It’s clear that going back-to-back is difficult, let alone in the Premier League, let alone in the current Premier League, where competitors can do similar things or even more than we can do," Slot told TNT Sports prior to Liverpool's Champions League clash with Galatasaray.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page"We always knew this would be very difficult because we lost a lot of players and we brought players in that took some time to be up to speed.
We always knew the signings we made would be a big success at this club, but we also knew it might take them some time to adapt and that I think has been shown."Not by the performances but playing every three days. They have been better than us this season, that is completely clear."Slot admits it is vital that the Reds finish in the top five this season, securing a spot back in European football's premier competition again in 2026/27."It’s very important for us as a team because we want to be in the Champions League," Slot said."And it has shown how important it is for this club financially.
We know we are in a transition at the moment with this team. We always knew it was going to happen after Jurgen left, it was also something they said to me when the first conversations were there."We’re still in that transition and a transition works better if there is money available.