Arne Slot has acknowledged that teams who play Liverpool think they can down the champions owing to their poor run of results and the manner of their performances
Arne Slot doesn’t believe Anfield has lost its fear factor but accepts teams who play Liverpool “think they can get a result” having seen their struggles this season.
Sunderland left Merseyside with a point on Wednesday, and it could’ve been more had it not been for a goal line clearance from Federico Chiesa in stoppage time. The Black Cats had taken the lead before they were pegged back.
It means Liverpool’s poor run of results continues and they’ve won just three of their last 14 games. That is a run that has seen them lose at home to the likes of Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and PSV, which have resulted in them falling down the table.
The Reds began the season with five successive wins in the Premier League, but even then those victories were not entirely convincing and Slot has noted that opposition teams know they can get at the champions.
He said on the team’s fear factor: “No, not Anfield. For sure. But it’s clear that teams that play us now think they can get a result. Not only think, because that has been shown this season. And even in the games we’ve won, they also fuelled the confidence for other teams like, ‘Hmm, something is possible’ because the wins we had at the beginning of the season weren’t easy ones as well.”
READ MORE: Arne Slot immediately backtracks on ‘clueless’ comment as Mohamed Salah sent clear messageREAD MORE: Liverpool player ratings as three stars score 7/10 but Alexander Isak struggles
The stalemate leaves Liverpool 11 points off league leaders Arsenal with their hopes of retaining their crown, however slim they may have been, further slipping away. Their fall off has been massive, especially given their start to the campaign.
Slot is under pressure to produce results and the Reds to have a favourable run of fixtures, which equally piles more demand on the Dutchman. They head to Leeds at the weekend, who have just got their tails up after downing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and may believe they can cause Liverpool problems in Yorkshire.
Brighton head to Anfield before Christmas with a trip to Tottenham also on the horizon. The north Londoners have a dire record at home and Liverpool won’t want to be the side that lets them off the hook.
Despite their domestic struggles Liverpool remain in the hunt in the Champions League. Their mauling by PSV recently means they have three wins from their five games but qualification is still in their own hands.
Slot, off the back of his champion season last time out, has plenty of credit in the bank but the poor run of results will not be allowed to continue with the Dutchman having to field questions about his future.
Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
