Liverpool has been warned that Arne Slot must get more from his attacking players in the second half of the season, with the Reds looking to secure their Champions League status
23:06, 24 Jan 2026
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Glyn KIRK / AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot should be "doing more" with the players that he has at his disposal, according to the former top-flight star and pundit Stuart Pearce.
After spending around $600M in the summer, Liverpool has looked shaky at times in the Premier League but better in the Champions League. And in the second half of the campaign, the Reds need to ensure they qualify for next season's edition of the tournament.
This weekend, the Reds lost to Bournemouth with Amine Adli scoring a 95th-minute winner for the Cherries. Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai scored, but Liverpool was unable to even hold on for a point after some dubious defending.
READ MORE: Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Bournemouth as Szoboszlai decent but one 4/10READ MORE: Arne Slot ignored as major Liverpool transfer risk laid bare - 5 talking points vs Bournemouth
"You look at Liverpool this season and there has been a few games where you think that they need to be doing more," former England international Pearce said before the Reds played at the Vitality Stadium.
"The Leeds game at Anfield was the one. I was watching that game and Leeds were comfortable. They came to Anfield, they got a point and they were comfortable for practically all of the game.
"That should not be happening, especially at Anfield. They have spent a lot of money on those forward players. I think in the Premier League especially, they need to be doing more."
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: Getty Images)
Slot felt that his players were tired and that could explain why Liverpool dropped another valuable point late in the day. His side was without five men in total.
"If Bournemouth had to run more then that's because we had 67 percent ball possession or something like that," Slot said. "Credit to them, it's definitely one of their strengths.
"I think they are top in almost every statistic when it comes to running. That's why I have to credit my players; if you go 2-0 down the way we did, again we showed mentality and fitness to come back into the game against one of the fittest teams in the league – and they only have to play once a week and, of course, that helps.
"That is not an excuse because a club like Liverpool is used to playing three times a week but we mainly do this with the same players and maybe last season that was a bit different. Last season we did not have three long-term injuries as we have now.
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"As you could see in our line-up, I decided not to play Hugo [Ekitike]. That was not because I didn't like him or he wasn't good against Marseille, it was simply because I only have one No.9 available for the upcoming weeks and months.
"He was out two weeks ago and with so many games to play, you have to manage his minutes. I think for Jeremie Frimpong, it's safe to say the same.
"In the first half, he was getting things. And after halftime, I think, I could see the energy running out of him a little bit as well. So the end result is you then play two players not in their favorite position with Wata [Endo] and Dom, by the way, they did well, but it is the reality of this moment."