LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom (AFP) – Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot is aware that Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola will find a way to rebound from their current struggles, but he is determined to capitalize on the opportunity to extend his side’s incredible form when the two teams meet this weekend.
After another scintillating performance, Slot’s tenure at Anfield is off to a dream start, highlighted by a 2-0 triumph over Real Madrid on Wednesday. The victory catapulted Liverpool back to the top of the Champions League group, while domestically, the Reds have surged ahead, sitting eight points clear of City, who are currently enduring their worst spell of form under Guardiola.
The Premier League champions are reeling from five consecutive defeats, and their most recent European outing ended in an unexpected 3-3 draw against Feyenoord, despite leading 3-0 with only 15 minutes remaining. The loss of midfielder Rodri—arguably one of their most influential players—due to a knee injury that will keep him sidelined for the rest of the season has added to their woes.
While Slot is confident Guardiola will find a way to right the ship, he hopes it won’t be before Sunday’s highly anticipated match. “One of the reasons why Guardiola is regarded as the best is his ability to always find solutions when problems arise,” Slot remarked during his pre-match press conference. “Rodri’s absence is a challenge for him, but we all know he’s more than capable of coming up with something to turn things around. Let’s hope that happens after Sunday.”
Slot also took a moment to reflect on Guardiola’s tactical genius, recalling the manager’s innovative use of inverted full-backs and a center-back playing as a defensive midfielder. “I don’t think anyone would be surprised if he surprises us again with something nobody has seen before,” Slot added.
However, Liverpool’s emphatic win over Real Madrid came at a cost. Both defenders Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate are now doubts for the clash against City after sustaining injuries in the latter stages of the match. “It’s always concerning when you have to take a player off, especially in Conor’s case, and Ibou couldn’t walk off the pitch properly after such a solid performance,” Slot said, referring to Konate’s injury.
Slot confirmed that Trent Alexander-Arnold would be available to step in should Bradley be unavailable for the weekend. Despite these concerns, Liverpool remain in excellent shape, with their strong league position a sign of their growing confidence.
Historically, teams who have held an eight-point lead after 12 Premier League matches have gone on to win the title. While Liverpool have only claimed the league crown once since 1990, they have been consistently competitive, with Guardiola’s City snatching the title from them twice in recent years by a narrow margin.
When asked about the possibility of taking advantage of City’s struggles, Slot remained pragmatic, insisting that beating Guardiola’s team is never easy. “I don’t think anyone, in the last eight or nine years, would say that City is an easy side to play against, whether it’s at home or away,” Slot said. “We’re focusing on our own game, and we know the challenge ahead of us is tough.”
Liverpool are riding high, but the visit of City will be their biggest test yet in this early-season battle for supremacy. The outcome of this top-of-the-table clash could prove pivotal in shaping the direction of the Premier League title race.
