Arne Slot accepts Liverpool cannot afford to make any more mistakes in league | OneFootball

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot conceded there was not much margin for error as the Premier League title race entered a pivotal phase.

Qualification for the Champions League last 16 in midweek means Slot’s side have a run of six Premier League matches – with only one midweek fixture – until European competition resumes in the second week of March.

In that period they have matches against Newcastle, Manchester City, Sunderland, Brighton, Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Wolves as they look to re-establish an advantage over Manchester United, two points ahead in fourth, and Chelsea in the race for Champions League qualification.

After securing just five wins from their last 18 league games, Slot knows this is the period when their form has to improve.

“We already thought that every single period was pivotal so that hasn’t changed but it is obvious the closer you come to the end, the less opportunities you have to make a mistake,” he said.

“We are now in a position where we cannot afford a mistake any more because we have made too many, giving away goals in the last minute that don’t do any justice to the performance in terms of the score.

“Every single game is crucial, but the way we have positioned ourselves now makes probably every game even more crucial because that is definitely what we want to achieve. It (Newcastle) is a crucial game, as is the next one, as is the next one as well.”

Slot will hope the reduced schedule allows time for some of his injured players to recover and, although he has Ibrahima Konate back from compassionate leave and Curtis Jones returning from illness, Jeremie Frimpong’s groin injury in midweek means there will be no recognised right-back again this weekend.

“He (Frimpong) will definitely not be in the squad tomorrow,” added Slot.

“He is out for a few weeks but not as bad as we thought, so something positive from something not so positive.

“Joe will not be available for the weekend but that doesn’t have to take much longer any more.”

British record signing Alexander Isak’s recovery from a broken leg and ankle surgery will not be rushed as five weeks after the injury he has only just dispensed with the walking aid he has been using for support.

Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni have been ruled out for the season and even though Slot could name only three senior outfield players Champions League win over Qarabag, he appears unlikely to add reinforcements before the window closes.

“The answer is that if we think we have identified a player that can help us and we think it is possible then we will do so,” said Slot.