Liverpool manager Arne Slot has defended his side after two consecutive poor performances, but admits they need to be more clinical to avoid relying on good fortune for the rest of the season.
A 2-2 draw against rivals Manchester United and a 1-0 defeat at Tottenham in the EFL Cup took the shine off Slot’s superb debut campaign.
But the Dutchman believes his team’s standards have not dropped as they prepare for an FA Cup clash with League Two side Accrington Stanley on Saturday’s peak time.
He said: “I think we are still the same team, performance-wise.
“I’ve said it many times, in a lot of games we won, maybe the only exception might be Chelsea, but all the others we deserved to win but never by a big margin, it was still very tight.
Jarell Quansah and Dominik Szoboszlai should return to contention for our Emirates FA Cup tie with Accrington Stanley 👊
–Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 10, 2025
“What can we improve? Increase the margin, because otherwise you always depend on a little luck or a little bad luck too or on certain decisions of the referee.
“We need to make sure we no longer depend on these moments and this is the next step we want to take if we want to no longer depend on good luck or bad luck.
“Because of results, people judge you on performance. It’s not often when a team draws or loses that people say they played very well.
Liverpool last won the FA Cup in 2022 and have only faced Stanley once before – a 2-0 win at Anfield in the 1956 FA Cup.
The Reds will likely make changes and rotate their squad, with Slot awaiting the availability of midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai and defender Jarell Quansah.
He said: “Every game is an opportunity for them to have a chance to play. Dom trained with the under-21s yesterday.
“Jarell was a bit ill last week, because of that I had to take him off during the match at Tottenham but I expect him to be available for tomorrow.
“Yes, we know we can use these players in every game and also in the one we have on Saturday.”
