Liverpool legend John Barnes has insisted that the Reds must secure Champions League qualification this season, warning against prioritising cup competitions, as Ange Postecoglou did at Tottenham. Whilst the Anfield outfit remain firmly in contention for a top-four finish, they face a significant challenge to overhaul title contenders Arsenal and Manchester City.
The Reds entered the international break nursing another loss after suffering a comprehensive defeat at the Etihad. The setback marked their fifth of the campaign, halting a two-match winning streak that had seen victories over Aston Villa and Real Madrid end a difficult spell.
Slot's squad will return to Anfield when domestic action resumes following the November international break, welcoming Sean Dyche's Nottingham Forest.
With their prospects of retaining the Premier League trophy diminishing, speculation has emerged suggesting a shift in focus towards pursuing a seventh European Cup triumph in the Champions League.
However, Barnes, who lifted the league title during his playing days at Liverpool, has implored the club to maintain their concentration on the Premier League and securing a top-four berth.
The 62-year-old has stated he would be "really disappointed" should Liverpool fail to occupy a Champions League position by season's end. "If you look at the progress we've made, not withstanding the Manchester City game, unfortunately, we came up against a very, very good team who were a much better team, I don't see us going back to when we lost those five games," he said, speaking exclusively via Video Gamer.
"We played a great Man City team and we didn't perform, if you look at the Real Madrid game and the game before that, we're not going to be playing a team like them every week so therefore, I don't see it as a crisis.
"We are eighth but only three or four points off the Champions League. I'd be very disappointed if we don't make the Champions League this season."
The upcoming fixtures present an opportunity for Liverpool to climb the table and restore belief, with their next opponents all languishing in the bottom half of the table.
The champions will be desperate to put behind them a torrid spell which delivered four consecutive league losses, alongside an unexpected Europa League setback against Galatasaray in Istanbul.
Whilst their title aspirations appear to be slipping away rapidly, Barnes dismissed the notion that lifting a trophy would rescue the campaign. He added: "Not at all [need silverware to salvage the season], Tottenham Hotspur and Ange Postecoglou got silverware, look what happened to him.
"What does silverware mean, winning the FA Cup? If you go out of the Champions League then it's the Europa League, win the Europa League and finish 10th is that a successful season?
"No, what it is is being consistent in the league that means winning most weeks and improving. You could play Barcelona in the semi-final or final and lose, does that mean because we didn't win the Champions League or a trophy it's a failure?
"For me, it's about what you do in the league week in week out, winning more than you lose. I think we will do that. You can't just concentrate on the Champions League because you neglect the league, put all your eggs into one basket and you fail.
"You have to try and win every football match that you play in and improve in every match. Every week we have to show an improvement or to be challenging to win football matches."