Arne Slot has expressed his disapproval of what he deems to be a “weird” reaction from Liverpool in response to their outstanding start in the Premier League. The Dutch manager conveyed that it would be unusual for his players to become overly fixated on being at the top of the league table and he does not anticipate them constantly checking their standings on their mobile phones throughout the day.
Slot’s team, buoyed by a commendable performance, is set to potentially secure a four-point lead, albeit momentarily, should they triumph over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park this Saturday. With five victories in their initial six league fixtures, Slot remains mindful of the wealth of experience within the squad, consisting of individuals who previously clinched both the Premier League and the Champions League under Jurgen Klopp – including Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah.
Notably, Liverpool occupied the first-place position for more days in the 2023-24 season compared to eventual champions Manchester City or Arsenal. Pointing to the stature of the club, Slot emphasised that it is not unexpected for a club of Liverpool’s calibre to lead the standings. He remarked, “It would be very weird if a player at Liverpool all of a sudden would have his head in the clouds. That would definitely not be normal.”
The manager dismissed concerns regarding the early kick-off time of 12:30, which had been a source of contention for former manager Jurgen Klopp. Slot quipped, “If 12.30 was a difficult time to perform, then I am a stupid manager because I train every day at midday.”
As Liverpool prepares to face Crystal Palace, Slot awaits confirmation on the fitness of summer signing Federico Chiesa. The Italian, who was absent for the recent 2-0 victory over Bologna, is undergoing assessments to determine his availability for selection. Slot noted, “He didn’t train in the last days, he came in today to see if he could train. If he can, then I still have a decision to make as we can only select 20 and he hasn’t trained for a few days. But first of all we have to wait and see if he can even train.”
The Liverpool manager’s stable and pragmatic approach underscores his intention to maintain focus and perspective amidst the club’s successful run at the beginning of the season.