Arne Slot, the Liverpool head coach, emphasises the significance of winning away games against the Premier League’s top sides to increase the chances of securing the title. The visit to Arsenal on Sunday has high stakes for Liverpool, as a win would increase their lead over Arteta’s team to seven points. Liverpool is looking to improve on last season’s disappointing away performances. Last season, out of a possible 21, Klopp’s squad only secured seven points from the top eight teams, only managing to beat Newcastle.
Manchester City and Arsenal respectively garnered 11 and 9 points from similar matches. Liverpool has already exhibited a noticeable improvement this season, especially in their match at Old Trafford compared to last year. Slot acknowledges the necessity for further wins to secure the championship. Last season, the gap between Liverpool and Arsenal was only seven points. The home and away matches against Arsenal ended in a draw and a win for Arsenal, respectively.
Slot states that while away victories against top-eight teams won’t single-handedly determine the title’s destiny, they are a good indicator of league-winning potential. He asserts that winning such matches requires significant skill. He cites as an example Pep Guardiola’s inaugural year with Manchester City, where they struggled with away games but managed to improve in their second year with a notable victory over Chelsea. Slot strongly believes that for any team aiming to win the league, securing wins in challenging away games is crucial.
Slot, once more facing Sunday’s match without the services of the injured players Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa, and Alisson, has clarified the tactical alterations to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role which has led to the full back’s decreased involvement in midfield this season.
“We have several strategies for advancing the ball,” Slot stated. “Occasionally, it’s with a repositioned full back role, and other times it involves tempting the press in an alternative manner and creating space in the midfield. If the rivals deploy a nine and a 10 for the press, we already have a three versus two advantage in the midfield, and what’s the point of adding an extra player there? Perhaps this might alter their strategy of pressing as well.
“Trent’s overlapping runs play a crucial role in Mo [Salah]’s gameplay. Trent is more effective when positioned on the side rather than in the centre, though he does often pivot inwards, as seen in the second goal we netted against Chelsea.” – Guardian