Arne Slot has warned his Liverpool side to prepare for an even trickier week as they aim to maintain their strong hold on the top of the Premier League.
The Reds are flying on all fronts at the moment after another remarkable week that saw them beat both Real Madrid and Manchester City at Anfield. They now find themselves on the verge of a place in the last-16 of the Champions League, while they also hold a nine-point lead in the Premier League – along with an 11-point advantage over Pep Guardiola’s side.
This week though provides another stern examination of his side’s title credentials as they face back-to-back away trips. After travelling to Newcastle on Wednesday, Liverpool will make the short journey across Stanley Park for the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
It’s a week that throws up the possibility of a slip-up, and no doubt the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and City will be hoping for one, if not two. Slot though is making sure his side doesn’t take the challenge lightly.
“We have shown that at home we are very physically strong, but after two wins like this it is sometimes difficult to show up again and again and again in an away game,” Slot said.
“Newcastle won at home against Arsenal, at home against Chelsea and drew with Manchester City so maybe it is even more difficult to play Newcastle away than City or Real at home. I am not talking about quality. I am talking about how difficult it is to win at St James’ Park.
“Everyone really looked forward to Real Madrid and Man City and now we have had it and that can sometimes lead to feeling it was such a great experience that you want to enjoy it for a few extra days.
“But we don’t have that time. We immediately have to show up again in probably one of the most difficult away games that you can have in a season. One of them, definitely.”
Slot will be drawing on his own experiences, having seen first-hand during his time in the Netherlands how expectations can be defied after a huge win.
Arne Slot has won 18 of his 20 games in charge of Liverpool
Arne Slot has won 18 of his 20 games in charge of Liverpool (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“Normally if you have beaten Ajax or PSV a game comes up that you can win. That is true. But I do remember last season when at Feyenoord we outplayed Lazio at home and everyone said that they can go to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and those kinds of things were said in the Dutch media.
“We then had to play FC Twente, who you could compare with Newcastle when it comes to the league table.
“We had a lot of difficulties because, if you beat Real Madrid and City, the teams you are then facing want to prove even more against you how good they are.
“You always have to be aware of that and then going to a stadium like that will help them as playing at Anfield helped us.”
Having won 18 out of his 20 matches in charge across all competitions, Slot has changed more than a few opinions on his side after the majority of pundits completely ruled Liverpool out of the running for the title before the start of the season – something the Dutchman was quick to remind Gary Neville of.
But he also knows how unlikely it is his side will have a smooth run-in to the end of the season.
“It doesn’t have to be inevitable but a normal season of every team, even City when winning it four times in a row, they have difficult spells,” Slot admitted.
“But we are not planning for this at all. I’m not thinking ‘How will I react then?’ Just one game at a time.”