LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool’s season is far from perfect. Now, coach Arn Slott said the rest of the campaign should be near-perfect if the defense gets going. premier league The champion will qualify for the Champions League.
Slott’s focus on a top-four finish with 13 matches still remaining says everything about Liverpool’s ever-deteriorating title defense.
but Dramatic 2-1 loss against Manchester City on Sunday The Merseysiders suffered their eighth league defeat of the season, leaving them 17 points behind first-placed Arsenal.
Liverpool still have a lot to play for as they are still in the Champions League and FA Cup. But in the Premier League, at least the slots are won the title In his debut season last year, he had to lower his sights.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s game at Sunderland, Slott said his team must be “close to perfect” to secure Champions League qualification for next season.
The top four finishers will qualify for Europe’s elite club soccer competition. Due to the performance of the England team in Europe this season, England are likely to secure the fifth spot.
Liverpool are in 6th place, five points behind fourth-placed Manchester United and four points behind fifth-placed Chelsea.
“That means we have to win a lot to close the four or five point gap to third, fourth and fifth place,” Slott said Tuesday. “And that’s not something we’ve done a lot this season, so we’ve got to get better at it and get closer to perfection.
“If there was no Champions League football, it would definitely not have been an acceptable season.”
Liverpool have won one of their last seven Premier League games and Slott said it had been his most challenging season as manager to date.
“The players aren’t used to losing a lot or drawing a lot. I’m not used to that either,” he said. “It’s always harder to get them going again after losing a soccer game than it is after winning (and) telling them they weren’t as good as they thought they were.
“Yes, this season has been more challenging for me as well. But you’re also taking the good things from the season, which may sound strange, but I’m also noticing how much we’re improving.”
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