Sunderland will host Liverpool on Wednesday facing a team for whom Champions League qualification is now “not acceptable” to miss, according to manager Arne Slot.
The Liverpool manager described this season as the most tough of his decade-long coaching career, acknowledging the significant impact of failing to secure a top-four finish and the resulting financial implications for the club. Liverpool spent nearly £450 million on players last summer.
“If we don’t have Champions League football, it’s definitely not been an acceptable season,” Slot said. He further explained the financial reliance on Champions League revenue, stating that the club’s transfer activity was directly affected by their participation in the Europa League last season. “When I arrived here we could only sign Federico Chiesa and that was after a Europa League season. That does have an enormous impact on the way this club is run, that is clear. We are completely aware.”
Despite the challenges, Slot expressed belief in the team’s potential to achieve success in the Champions League and FA Cup. However, he conceded the campaign has been uniquely testing. “By a mile,” he said, when asked to compare this season to his previous managerial experiences. “Because all the other seasons I’ve managed there were only positives. I don’t reckon I’d ever lost two games in a row, so it’s an exception this season for me as We see for the players. The players are not used to losing a lot or having a lot of draws. I’m not used to that as well.”
Slot also noted improvements in the team’s physical conditioning, allowing them to maintain a higher intensity over a demanding schedule. “In my opinion, everyone is now able to play every three days at an intensity level that is needed at this club and, as a result of that, I think our performances are much better than they were in the period at the start of the season when we started playing a double programme.”
Liverpool face further selection difficulties at the Stadium of Light, potentially without any recognised right-backs. Dominik Szoboszlai is suspended following his red card in the match against Manchester City. Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley are already sidelined with injuries, and the availability of Joe Gomez, who has returned to training, will be a late decision.
