Liverpool manager Arne Slot has focused on the positives from last night’s disappointing draw to Aston Villa ahead of the Reds’ next Premier League fixture against Manchester City.
“These players are able to play every three games on the best of their abilities,” Slot said today.
He particularly praised midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.
“What a work rate, until the last second he kept running up and down and that’s the only thing I can ask for and what the fans can ask for.
“That we were then unlucky enough to not to score our chances, that’s football unfortunately.”
On Darwin Nuñez’s missed goal chances against Villa, Slot stated the importance of mindset and work rate.
“I can accept every miss, especially from a player that has scored important goals for us,” he said.”
“But it was a bit harder for me to accept his behaviour after that chance, I think it got too much in his head.
“You can miss a chance but you can’t miss out on work rate, that’s the life of a striker.”
After a rocky few months amid an injury crisis, City seem to be on an up again in the league, despite last night’s Champions League loss to Real Madrid.
Slot said: “They are a great football team and they have had maybe one or two months that were not the best but I can see them coming back already.
“You have to work really hard to keep them away from the goal because they are so good at ball possession.
“Even Pep needs quality players to get results and if so many players are out, in this league, it’s hard.”
Reflecting on the season, Slot said: “Unfortunately, too many times this season we’ve missed too many chances, I don’t think we have stolen many points.
“The fixture list for us now is a few difficult ones in a row and that’s what you have to accept, but the good thing is that we are not behind someone, we are still number one.”
This Sunday Liverpool will be without Joe Gomez who is recovering from hamstring surgery and Conor Bradley, who was injured against Villa.
It is not known yet if Cody Gakpo will be back.
With Arsenal playing the day before, this will be an important game for the Reds to solidify their title claim.
Kick-off for Liverpool vs Manchester City will be at 16:30 on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium.
(Featured image licensed by Alamy Images)
