Slot Talk: Forwards Firing Amidst a Mostly Positive Start to the Season

Today at 02:00 PM

Slot spoke on his squad options and the team's strong start to the season

Arne Slot spoke to the press ahead of Liverpool's match away at the Molineux this Saturday, and quickly addressed something many of us have noticed: Slot's Liverpool appears spoiled with riches up front as all attacking players are contributing to the scoresheet and the team's general play. Slot addressed the forwards' good form:

For me, it says two things. It says, one, these players have a lot of quality and, second of all, it says the team is always creating chances for the players we are selecting for that game. If we play Cody [Gakpo] or if we play Lucho [Luis Diaz], the team is just creating the chances for these individuals and because they have so much quality they can promote this to assists or goals. That's what it says to me.

Slot also sees the busy schedule as a positive in this context, as players have more gametime than they might otherwise expect:

That's the positive thing about playing so many games; these players will always play a lot of games. I think they understand they can't play every game unless it's absolutely necessary to keep them fit and sharp and to keep them ready to perform like they do. As long as they accept the situation as it is – and that is what they are doing at the moment because they have good numbers and I see them smile a lot as well – then it's a very positive thing for us. That's also one of the things of my job – I have to keep them alert and happy in the position they are in.

The Liverpool boss is pleased with how the squad has adapted to different game states as well as to his own tweaks in their approach:

I think I said it on many occasions already, I am very happy with the squad I inherited. Not only because of their quality but maybe even more about the culture Jürgen [Klopp] left behind. All of these players are team players, so they accept their role even when they are not playing. They always want to work hard for the team first. It's been a privilege to inherit a squad like I inherited from Jürgen.

Slot is largely pleased by what he's seen to start this season, but cannot escape the caveat of the Nottingham Forest shock loss:

I think it's been a positive start, with a small disappointment of us losing at home against Nottingham Forest. I think every home game you lose is a disappointment, especially if it's not against a team that's competing for a top-four position, although you never know what Nottingham Forest is going to do this season. That was definitely a disappointment. But overall it's been a good start– not a perfect one because then we should've won the game I was just referring to.

But the style we play [and] the way we play is still very close to what you guys were used to for nine years, which is quite normal because we have almost all the same players like Jürgen had. Keeping results going is a good thing. Again, I have to mention about that the fixture list has been good to us, although you never know maybe in 17 or 18 games these teams that are now on the bottom side of the table maybe go up in the upcoming weeks or months. It's been a good start but not a perfect one.

He will hope that a commanding performance away at Wolves will further suggest the loss as a blip.