Image Credits: Imago Images
Liverpool and Newcastle United meet at Anfield in a clash with big implications for the race for UEFA Champions League spots. The Reds dropped to sixth in the Premier League after last weekend’s 3-2 late defeat to Bournemouth, allowing Manchester United and Chelsea to close the gap.
Newcastle sit just three points behind despite failing to win their last two league games, and Arne Slot will be keen to prevent that margin from shrinking further.
Liverpool’s start to 2026 has been frustrating, with four draws before the Bournemouth loss. Slot has revealed he sometimes motivates his players using clips of 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, who continues to defy age at the 2026 Australian Open and will bid on Sunday to become the first player, male or female, to win 25 Grand Slam titles.
Arne Slot became only the third manager in Liverpool’s history to win the league in his debut season, following Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish. He also became the first coach since Antonio Conte at Chelsea in 2016-17 to claim the Premier League title in his maiden campaign.
Speaking at the AXA Training Centre, Slot told TNT Sports: “You need to have so much respect for a sportsman like him. Being on the top level for years is only given to a few, but the amount of years he’s now at the top level…I think he’s played almost every Grand Slam semi-final in the last few years, at his age…with all due respect.
“I, we, are fortunate to be in the era of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi when it comes to football. “To be in the era of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic has been a privilege to watch every single time, and that he’s still part of it, that also tells you.
“Earlier in the interview we spoke about Mo [Salah], about what it takes to be every few days at the top level for such a long time, and Djokovic is a great example for that.
“Sometimes in the past I’ve used moments of him, either when he’s talking, or clips of his tennis games in meetings I’ve had with my former clubs.”
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