The hard-fought nature of Liverpool’s victories under Arne Slot is preventing complacency seeping in at the runaway Premier League leaders.
The Dutchman has won 17 of his first 19 matches as Jurgen Klopp’s successor and his side will go 11 points ahead of Manchester City if they beat the champions at Anfield on Sunday.
Yet the hot streak has not been without difficulty. In Liverpool’s last seven matches, they’ve only been ahead at half-time once and beaten the opposition by more than two goals on just one occasion.
Slot feels the competitive nature of Liverpool’s games has averted any risk of getting carried away.
‘I think it’s helped that every game we’ve won until now has been a difficult win,’ he said.
‘If you win 5-0 three or four games in a row, players tend to go “Oh, this is quite easy”, but all of our games have been so tight and we’ve had to work for it so hard.
I think all the players know how hard it’s been to get results. Sometimes I tell them this, but I think they feel this themselves as well.’
Slot is aiming to become the first Dutch manager to win the Premier League though countrymen Ruud Gullit, Guus Hiddink and Erik ten Haag lifted domestic cups.
The 46-year-old has struck a quieter and more considered figure compared to Klopp’s outsized personality.
The results have helped but he is adamant his personality won’t change should Liverpool’s form slip.
‘I hope the winning doesn’t change but if it does happen, I tend to think I am still the same person. At AZ Alkmaar, we didn’t have a win in five games and I still think people felt I was the same.
‘The people inside this building would also say that if we will lose, I will be thoughtful and calm. It’s not to say I can not be angry but in general I am thoughtful and calm.
Slot may have to break up the Virgil van Dijk-Ibrahima Konate pairing in the heart of defence with the Frenchman injured.
It should give an opportunity to Joe Gomez with Slot saying: ‘Joe was a fantastic replacement for Ibou in the Brighton game, while Jarell (Quansah) is also doing well.
‘If Ibou is not able to play, we have two very good replacements for him.
‘Of course, we are hoping Ibou is available but if he isn’t we have to adapt like we have done already this season when Jogo (Diogo Jota), Alisson and Trent (Alexander-Arnold) were out.
