Liverpool’s start to the 2024-25 season under head coach Arne Slot has been, by any measure, exceptional. The Reds are a full eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table after 12 games and the only side perfect after four Champions League rounds.
There’s always another test, though. Another challenge. And challenges don’t get much more difficult than a pair of matches against first Real Madrid in the Champions League mid-week followed up with Manchester City in the Premier League on the weekend.
“It’s a special week for us,” Slot noted of the upcoming two games, both set for Anfield, against the most successful sides in Europe and England respectively in recent seasons, two sides that time and again thwarted the Reds under Jürgen Klopp during his tenure.
“When this week is done again a big week is coming with Newcastle and the Merseyside Derby, so if you are Liverpool you always play big games. But these two are special because these three clubs have dominated the league and Europe for so many years recently.”
One of the regrets for many Liverpool fans is found therein, in the fact that for as good as Liverpool have been domestically in recent seasons there has always been City, a sportswashing front for a human rights abusing petrostate, blocking their path to glory.
Meanwhile in Europe, even when on paper they have seemed the better side and even when in practice they’ve been the better team out on the pitch, when they’ve come up against Madrid in recent seasons, time and again the end has been disappointment.
As well as they’ve played this season, then, these next two matches bring an exceptional opportunity to put an exclamation point on their start under Slot—but also exceptional risk, yet another opportunity to have their hopes and dreams crushed by Madrid and City.
“Not only for Liverpool but for every club that has played [Real Madrid] in Europe, they can win in so many different ways,” Slot added. “That’s why they won this competition so many times. They can win being really dominant but if it is difficult they always find a way.
“To win the game, to go to the next round, that’s what makes them special. Also of course because they are always having great individual players, but Liverpool has great players at the moment and for recent years as well. So we’re all looking forward to tomorrow.”