Arne Slot has presided over an underwhelming second season in charge of Liverpool and he knows that a winning end to the campaign won't change how people view them
Arne Slot has been bought back down to earth in his second year with Liverpool
Arne Slot has been bought back down to earth in his second year with Liverpool(Image: Visionhaus, Visionhaus/Getty Images)
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Arne Slot accepts that "no one will be positive" about Liverpool's campaign and finishing with three wins won't change that perception.
The Reds, who came into the season as defending champions, have fallen off their perch but look set to qualify for the Champions League, which was in doubt going back several weeks. They will finish the season by facing three sides in the top nine - starting with out-of-form Chelsea.
Prior to losing at Manchester United last week Liverpool had won three on the bounce, and repeating that against the Blues, Aston Villa and Brentford would see them finish the year with six wins in seven.
Yet the mid-season collapse, which saw them tumble down the table and out of title contention, has seen their season deemed underwhelming and Slot knows that won't change in the minds of many.
He said: "This season has been gone in a way that even if we have three wins and positive performances, I don't think anyone will be positive about the season. It's important we get at least one win over the line which might be enough.
"We are trying to do it in the best possible way, performance-wise. The positive thing is a few of the players who can be really important for us are either coming back at the weekend or after the weekend. That will help us.Three wins won't silence the criticism. Therefore we need to have a much longer run of result and performances."
Liverpool's season has been all the more disappointing given the £400million plus investment they made into a squad that had claimed the title. A number of their major arrivals have come up short or struggled with form and fitness - Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz among them.
Liverpool had been tipped to challenge for the title, but they've been miles off the pace
Liverpool had been tipped to challenge for the title, but they've been miles off the pace(Image: Michael Regan, Getty Images)
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Slot though believes they have deserved more than they've got. "The performances, clearly in the Premier League, we didn't pick up the points we should have," said the Dutchman. "We haven't had a very good season in the Premier League but we've played better and not got the points we should have."
Despite the huge spend last summer Slot admits they will go again in the market, but claims the turnover will be be "as drastic" as it was 12 months ago. "There will be a bit of transition this summer but not as drastic as last summer," he said.
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