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Liverpool head to London West Ham this weekend trying to steady themselves after a rough stretch, and Arne Slot’s latest press conference gave a clear picture of where his head is and where he believes his team stands. It was an honest session, shaped by frustration, realism and a steady belief that the team can still fight their way through a difficult run. Below is a full breakdown of the themes he touched on, along with the bigger story beneath his words.
A Familiar Conversation Behind the Scenes
Arne Slot made it clear that talks with the club’s ownership and new sporting director Richard Hughes have not shifted in tone. Even after the loss to PSV Eindhoven, he described those internal conversations as consistent with the past year and a half. That might calm some fears about panic behind closed doors, but it also shows that the leadership group chooses stability over knee jerk reactions.
He said the message remains the same. Everyone fights on, everyone looks for improvement, and no one is throwing blame around. Given the scrutiny that comes with the Liverpool job, that level of steadiness is worth noting.
Standards Have Dropped but Slot Refuses to Point Fingers
Reporters asked whether he felt let down by his players. Slot did not bite. He agreed that recent performances have fallen short of the standards Liverpool expect, but he refused to look at individuals.
His message was simple. When the team shines, certain players receive lots of praise. When the team struggles, he wants the same logic applied in reverse. The collective comes first. He stressed that this is how he sees football: the team creates the platform that makes individuals look good. When the team dips, the whole group is responsible for lifting it. That approach signals unity, but it also suggests he does not see an attitude problem. He sees performance issues, and he believes they can be fixed.
Searching for Practical Changes
Slot did not pretend that he has a magic solution. When asked what he can do differently, he explained that the usual self review process happens after every match, win or lose. When results go against you, that reflection becomes even sharper.
He spoke about sticking to core values of the club. Fight together. Keep going, even when things get hard. What bothers him the most is that Liverpool do not reward themselves when they play well. They create chances. They produce long stretches of strong play. Then a small mistake turns into a goal conceded. He called it a bad cocktail that punishes every slip. This sense of wastefulness seems to eat at him more than anything else.
Pressure Is Part of the Job, and Players Feel It Most
Slot never hides from pressure. He admitted that managing Liverpool is stressful, especially when the team is losing more than usual. Still, he pointed out that players face the heavier burden. They are the ones on the pitch. They are the ones who get hit with early setbacks and must dig themselves out.
He described a cycle that repeats far too often. Liverpool start well. They give up an early goal. They respond with a strong first half. They concede again after the break. Then the weight of repeated blows becomes obvious. He said the team must fight for the entire match, but he also acknowledged how hard that becomes when the confidence keeps getting shaken. His honesty about the emotional toll reveals a coach who understands his squad’s mindset and does not pretend that elite athletes are immune to self doubt.
A Tough West Ham Side Awaits
Slot praised Nuno Espirito Santo’s impact at West Ham. The results speak for themselves, and Slot called Nuno a difficult manager to face. He said West Ham are tougher to beat now than they were early in the season. He expects a real challenge at London Stadium. He also knows that Liverpool’s recent form changes the dynamic. Opponents sense vulnerability, and that gives them belief. Slot knows West Ham will not treat this like a normal visit from Liverpool. They will smell opportunity.
xG Brings More Frustration Than Comfort
Some managers use xG as a shield. Slot used it as a source of irritation. Liverpool’s expected goals have been higher than their opponents in the last three matches, yet the results tell a very different story.
He pointed out that context matters. When a team is chasing a game, they naturally create more chances because they take more risks. He also said that Liverpool’s strongest xG numbers usually come early in matches, long before the team finally gets punished for failing to finish those chances. The message was clear. Liverpool miss too many chances when it matters most, and xG does nothing to soften the reality. He knows the performance level itself is not enough.
Curtis Jones Spoke with Passion and Slot Wants It on the Pitch
Curtis Jones gave a fiery post match interview after the PSV loss. Slot liked the intent, but he also made a point. Words are helpful only when they show up in performances.
He praised the team’s running stats against PSV, which included several personal bests. The effort was there. The results were not. Slot believes that the minimum requirement is always effort. He saw that in the last match, even though the outcome was painful. He believes Jones and the rest of the squad are aligned on what needs to happen. The challenge is turning that energy into something the scoreboard reflects.
Confidence Takes Hits but Not as Early as People Think
Slot pushed back against the idea that the team look shaken from kickoff. He said the players start with confidence and even respond well after going behind. The real damage happens later, after the third or fourth setback, when it becomes clear that mistakes are proving too costly.
He pointed to the 3 to 1 moment against PSV as the point where he finally saw the team look defeated. He did not defend that stretch. In fact, he said it openly. The fighting spirit dipped, and that cannot happen.
Half Time Adjustments Aren’t the Issue
Some fans believe Liverpool come out of the dressing room flat. Slot disagreed. He reminded everyone that against Manchester City, the second half was far better than the first. He cited Crystal Palace as another example.
Every loss has its own story. The recent ones share a painful pattern. Liverpool concede right after halftime, at a moment where belief is already fragile. Slot admitted the last two second halves were not good, but he does not see a trend that goes beyond circumstances.
Does the Squad Need a Shake Up
Slot said he considers every option, including giving more minutes to players who have not been involved. Training performances matter, and the door is open. He also noted that earlier in the season he made several changes and was criticized for tinkering too much. He kept the final decision for Sunday quiet, which only adds intrigue to the lineup.
Liverpool Must Respond Now
If there was one message that echoed throughout every part of Slot’s press conference, it was that fighting remains the foundation of Liverpool’s identity. He believes they create enough chances. He believes the effort has been strong. What is missing is the final punch that turns good football into wins.
West Ham will not make this easy. In fact, this might be the toughest time of the season to face them. But the pressure is part of life at Liverpool, and Slot knows his team must deal with it head on. Sunday will reveal whether this group can turn honest reflection into real progress.
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YNWA (You’ll Never Walk Alone)!
The Liverpool FC Times Team
LiverpoolFCTimes.com