Liverpool manager Arne Slot has conceded his team is dropping too many points in the Premier League, following a 2-1 loss at Brighton & Hove Albion that left the club in fifth place and with only one point from their last nine available.
The defeat, Liverpool’s 10th of the season and their first such tally since 2015-16, came despite a midweek 4-0 Champions League win over Galatasaray. Brighton outplayed the visitors in the second half at the Amex Stadium.
Slot acknowledged the pressure that comes with managing at Anfield but insisted qualification for next season’s Champions League remains the priority.
“There is always pressure at Liverpool. On me, on the players. That is completely normal,” he told TNT Sports. “We have qualified for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and the Champions League but in the league we need to make sure that in the end, we qualify for the Champions League.”
He singled out missed opportunities in recent fixtures, including last week’s game against Tottenham.
“As much as I dislike us losing here, Brighton away will always be a difficult one… But there are other games where we should have picked up more points, like last week against Tottenham. That is far more unacceptable than this,” Slot said.8599
The Dutch coach also pointed to recurring fatigue after European matches and recent injuries to key players Mohamed Salah, Alisson and Hugo Ekitike as contributing factors.
“It is clear that we have lost a lot of points after playing in Europe… It is not like he will be out for three months but it was bad enough that he wasn’t able to continue. It was a blow for him and a blow for us,” Slot added of Ekitike’s early substitution.
Despite the setback, Liverpool remain in contention for a top-four finish with several matches still to play.