Arne Slot reveals key factor that gives Arsenal hope in title race – and what Liverpool must do in defining period
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Arne Slot believes that taking a nine-point lead in the Premier League wouldn’t strike a psychological blow to Liverpool’s title rivals – but could prove crucial as he eyed Arsenal’s run-in.
League leaders Liverpool play their game in hand against Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday with the chance to go nine points ahead of Arsenal and 12 clear of third-place Nottingham Forest.
And it is the start of five league games in 15 days, with a rearranged trip to Aston Villa, brought forward from March because Liverpool are in the Carabao Cup final, now set for next Wednesday and meaning that Slot’s side could move up to 15 points clear of the Gunners if they beat Unai Emery’s team.
But the Dutchman is aware that Arsenal finished last season strongly and feels they are capable of going on an extended winning run.
He has also studied their fixture list and noted they do not have to play Manchester City, Aston Villa, Tottenham or Brighton again.
He said: “For me it is not about psychology. For me it is about having nine points or six points, that is the difference, [of a] lead against teams who are able to win so many games in a row. So leave out psychology, it is just going to be crucial to have so many points as possible because the teams we face are able to win every single game in the Premier League.
“In the first half of the season, I said many times, judge the league table after 19 games but the thing is, Arsenal now played one more, but if you look at the games they already had [twice] – City, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Brighton, I think – so they have had quite a lot of teams that are doing really well so that is why it is important to try to extend the lead tomorrow. That is not going to be easy, obviously.”
Slot has said that Curtis Jones, who was a late withdrawal from the team that lost at Plymouth in the FA Cup on Sunday, will be fit to feature at Goodison Park if needed.
He added: “He was out for 10 or 12 days and he played a game at home against Tottenham. His recovery took a bit longer than expected.”
