Liverpool Needs One More Victory, Says Arne Slot
The Dutch manager believes his team, which visits Girona this Tuesday, needs one last win to secure its qualification in the Champions League group stage.
After five matchdays, Liverpool leads their group with 15 points, having won all their games so far. While they haven't made finishing in first place an absolute goal, the Reds are looking to secure a spot in the top eight to avoid the dangerous playoffs. "The first thing is to secure a place in the top eight, and we think we need one more win," said Arne Slot before the match against Girona, scheduled for this Tuesday at 18:45.
A key return for Liverpool
With a full week of preparation thanks to the postponement of the Mersey derby against Everton, Slot will have his full squad, including goalkeeper Alisson, who returns after two months out with a hamstring injury. "We expect some marginal gains, but Kelleher did so well that now we have two great goalkeepers," the Dutch coach highlighted. This is great news for Liverpool, who have had an outstanding start to the season, with only one loss in the 21 matches they've played across all competitions.
Despite the good results, Slot wonders if his strategy in the Champions League is the right one. "If we keep playing with the starting XI and skip the next round (the playoffs), maybe next year we'll think differently," he said about the importance of finishing in the top eight. However, from a financial standpoint, qualification is not in doubt.
