Arne Slot believes Liverpool can manage the mounting pressure in the Premier League title race, despite recent nervous wins. With a victory against Aston Villa, they can extend their lead over Arsenal to 10 points.
Arne Slot is confident that Liverpool can cope with the increasing pressure of the Premier League title race, despite a nervy 2-1 win over Wolves on Sunday.
Liverpool heads to Aston Villa on Wednesday, knowing a victory would extend their lead to 10 points over second-placed Arsenal as they aim for a 20th English league title. However, recent performances have shown signs of tension, with the Reds nearly squandering a two-goal lead against Wolves and suffering a disappointing FA Cup loss to Plymouth.
Liverpool left-back Andrew Robertson acknowledged the nerves building as the season nears its conclusion, but Slot pointed to the team’s resilience in tight matches as evidence they won’t buckle under pressure. He reflected on previous narrow victories, such as a hard-fought win over Crystal Palace, and stressed that securing a win, even by a one-goal margin, requires solid defending and relentless effort.
“It’s not about us; it’s what people make of it. We’ve won many tight games this season and we can handle it,” Slot stated. “When it gets tight, you have to defend and work hard. That’s what we’ve done before, and we’ll do again.”
Arsenal’s 15-match unbeaten run has added extra tension for Liverpool, but Slot believes the experience within the squad, including players who won the Premier League in 2020, will help them stay focused. The Reds’ boss also recalled his own experience of navigating title pressure during his successful Feyenoord campaign, but he remained cautious about drawing too many parallels with Liverpool’s current situation.
“We don’t have a special meeting on handling pressure,” Slot said. “The players have to step up. Experience helps, but we mustn’t overvalue it. This is a different team and a different league.”
Slot acknowledged the challenge Villa poses, particularly with their strong home form, but he was optimistic about the confidence Liverpool gained from their recent win. “We didn’t play our best, but we fought to the end. That’s what you need to win titles,” Slot added.
Liverpool will be without Cody Gakpo and Joe Gomez for the Villa match, with Gomez facing a few weeks out due to a hamstring injury. Nonetheless, Slot remains confident in his team’s ability to handle the mounting pressure as they chase the Premier League crown.
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