Liverpool are easing well into life after Jurgen Klopp, with the Reds topping the Premier League table after seven games. Arne Slot has led his men to six victories out of their first seven Premier League games this season, staying above rivals Manchester City and Arsenal on the standings. However, the Dutch manager is convinced that his side has had a relatively easy fixtures schedule so far, and would only get their real test in the next four weeks.
The Reds are set to host Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday, with a visit to RB Leipzig next in the Champions League, setting off a series of important fixtures for the team. This includes a Premier League fixture with Arsenal before two straight fixtures with Brighton in the Premier League and the League Cup. Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen are also their opponents in Europe for this series of fixtures that would also see them face Aston Villa and Man City in the League. Speaking on the coming stretch of fixtures at his pre-match presser ahead of Sunday’s game, the Liverpool manager said, “If you judge your team only on a week that would not be fair. We have to judge us after this spell of games, not three but six seven eight then we know better how we act if we play tough Champions League games and tough league games. We know how difficult it is. We saw the last year when we played Champions League, we saw last year with Man United, the only ones in the last two seasons who show they can play Champions League and Premier League is City and Arsenal. The best way to judge us in four weeks.”
Slot also defended his captain Virgil van Dijk who is under criticism for leaving the Dutch national team camp early after being sent off in the Netherlands’ game against Hungary. He said, “If you are not coming from Holland, it might not be a surprise if you are coming from Holland, you know the Dutch media is all about criticism.
“I exaggerate a bit but if there is a chance to criticise Dutch people will. I don’t think he deserves this because he played some very good games. Is it a surprise he gets criticism?
“I would say it is because in this schedule it is normal you have a few days off. How on earth you can criticise a player who plays every game for us and also the Euros but that is Dutch media.”
Going into the game against Chelsea, Liverpool have several injury worries which the manager has not fully assessed. He said, “We have quite some issues from players coming back from the national teams. We can only judge that perfectly today because today is the first time that they’re all in and the first time that they’re all training together again. So let’s see after the session where everybody is.”
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