While the Reds can boast a decent record in games against many of their nearest Premier League rivals in recent seasons, that could not be said for clashes against their two main title contenders last term.
In four games against Manchester City and Arsenal, Liverpool failed to win any with three draws joined by a costly and untimely 3-1 defeat at the Emirates in February where, had the Reds won, they’d have gone eight points clear of the Gunners.
While significantly earlier in the campaign, victory in North London this weekend would move Liverpool seven points ahead of Mikel Arteta’s side. Regardless, Slot acknowledges the importance of, at the very least, avoiding defeat.
“We all know that taking points from your competitor (is important),” says the Reds boss. “Nobody knows in this early stage who is going to be your competitor or your biggest competitor, but I think we all know that Arsenal will be one of them and then dropping points against them or winning points against them, that is always important.
It was three draws and one loss (against Arsenal and Manchester City) last season so if you use simple mathematics, if Liverpool could have won all three of them I think the league table would have been a bit different.
“It’s difficult to win an away game against Arsenal, City or all the other ones but it’s something we are trying on Sunday, definitely.”
“We all know that taking points from your competitor (is important),” says the Reds boss. “Nobody knows in this early stage who is going to be your competitor or your biggest competitor, but I think we all know that Arsenal will be one of them and then dropping points against them or winning points against them, that is always important.
“It was three draws and one loss (against Arsenal and Manchester City) last season so if you use simple mathematics, if Liverpool could have won all three of them I think the league table would have been a bit different.
“It’s difficult to win an away game against Arsenal, City or all the other ones but it’s something we are trying on Sunday, definitely.”
That said, results in game against major rivals are probably more about perception and gaining momentum than the actual value of the points.
Consider the fact City also took only three points in games against Arsenal and Liverpool last term. The Londoners were unbeaten in taking eight yet still finished as runners-up.
But extend the mini-league to the traditional ‘big six’ during the current Premier League era – Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur complete the sextet – it’s easy to see where Liverpool fell short last season, taking only 12 points from their 10 such fixtures. While there were only two defeats, six ended up as draws.
Given the attention to detail fast becoming a trademark, it should be no surprise it was noticed by Arne Slot. And the Liverpool head coach believes Sunday represents the perfect opportunity for the situation to be addressed.
While the Reds can boast a decent record in games against many of their nearest Premier League rivals in recent seasons, that could not be said for clashes against their two main title contenders last term.
In four games against Manchester City and Arsenal, Liverpool failed to win any with three draws joined by a costly and untimely 3-1 defeat at the Emirates in February where, had the Reds won, they’d have gone eight points clear of the Gunners.
this weekend would move Liverpool seven points ahead of Mikel Arteta’s side. Regardless, Slot acknowledges the importance of, at the very least, avoiding defeat.
“We all know that taking points from your competitor (is important),” says the Reds boss. “Nobody knows in this early stage who is going to be your competitor or your biggest competitor, but I think we all know that Arsenal will be one of them and then dropping points against them or winning points against them, that is always important.
“It was three draws and one loss (against Arsenal and Manchester City) last season so if you use simple mathematics, if Liverpool could have won all three of them I think the league table would have been a bit different.
“It’s difficult to win an away game against Arsenal, City or all the other ones but it’s something we are trying on Sunday, definitely.”
That said, results in game against major rivals are probably more about perception and gaining momentum than the actual value of the points.
