"Slot" reveals why Liverpool deserves to compete for the championship despite trailing Arsenal by 14 points in the Premier League.
On 8 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Arne Slot, Liverpool's manager, spoke ahead of the decisive Premier League match of the 2025-26 season's 21st week, when Liverpool will visit Arsenal tonight at 03:00 GMT+7.
Before kickoff, Liverpool sits fourth with 34 points, trailing league leaders Arsenal by as many as 14 points. This means the "Reds" must win against the "Gunners" if they want to keep their hopes alive for the 2025-26 Premier League title.
Asked if the 2025-26 season could still be special for Liverpool, Arne Slot replied, "Yes, absolutely. This club has shown many times that even when league form isn't at its best, they can still win other competitions."
"It's always possible because we have a group of very skilled and talented players. We've shown we can compete against nearly every team. We just lack consistency against teams we are expected to beat, which is why we're 14 points behind Arsenal."
Regarding why Liverpool has yet to find consistent playing rhythm this season, the manager said, "It's frustrating because normally you think playing against the best teams in the world or country is harder than facing teams not competing for the league title or not playing in the UEFA Champions League."
"Of course, there are reasons behind it. People like our performances against Aston Villa and Brighton more than other games, and I can tell you why. But if I say it, people will say I'm making our opponents smarter."
"Look, we need to find a way to play the same style of football even when facing teams with different playing styles. We haven't found that point yet, but the word 'yet' is important. We should find a consistent rhythm before this season ends."