Arne Slot admits ‘there’s a lot to improve’ as Liverpool prepare for Everton clash | OneFootball

Slot Calls for Liverpool to Improve as Wirtz Shows His Growth

Liverpool’s Champions League nights have had a familiar rhythm this season, drama, late goals and questions about control. Arne Slot was content with the 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid but admitted that his side still have plenty of work to do.

Slot on Mentality, Fitness and Quality

Slot emphasised that the path to sustained success is about more than just late winners. “I think one of the things you need to have if you want to compete for the Premier League and the cups and the Champions League is mentality and fitness. But you also need quality and I think that’s also what we saw tonight.”

Photo IMAGO

He even admitted to feeling slightly conflicted about the outcome. “Maybe I am even a bit disappointed that we scored in the last minute, I know that’s going to be your headline and it’s going to be great to score a late game winner, but I would have liked it more if we would have spoken about, ‘Did you see the few attacks we had before half-time when Florian [Wirtz] and Alex combined together, which led to almost Jeremie [Frimpong] scoring, or second half a great attack with Dominik and Flo and Mo that ended up on the post.’”

Photo: IMAGO

For Slot, the focus is not just on the result but on the patterns of play that will help Liverpool improve long term.

Areas to Improve

The Dutchman made it clear that Liverpool cannot keep surrendering two-goal leads. “Everybody will probably talk again about the late game winner, which I understand because that is the story of this game and the story of the last five games. But for me it was a different game… So yes, there is a lot to improve but there is a lot to like as well.”

That sense of balance, celebrating the spirit of late winners but demanding more control, sums up Slot’s early months this season.

Big Tests Ahead

With a congested schedule approaching, Liverpool’s ability to improve will be critical. Slot will hope Wirtz’s continued development can turn good performances into dominant ones. As the German grows into the system, Liverpool’s attack looks set to become more dangerous, which is exactly what Slot wants heading into the decisive months of the campaign.