Slot not getting carried away by Liverpool’s impressive start

Arne Slot feels Liverpool still have “a lot to prove” despite starting their Premier League campaign with successive 2-0 wins.

Brentford were swatted aside at Anfield this afternoon thanks to goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah as Liverpool repeated the margin of victory they enjoyed at Ipswich on the opening weekend.

It was a commanding display against Brentford but Slot was quick to point out there will be sterner tests to come.

Starting off at Anfield with a win 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Cof3S5XCOT

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 25, 2024

He told Match of the Day: “The fans loved to see the team playing really well but they also loved to see the team working very hard. I liked what I saw so if I like it then mostly the fans like it. So it was a very good day for us.

“Again we won against Ipswich, won against Brentford. Two good teams but I am not expecting them to be in the top six in the upcoming year so still a lot to prove for us in the upcoming weeks and months.”

Liverpool are just one of four teams – alongside Manchester City, Arsenal and Brighton – to have six points from two games and the former Feyenoord boss was pleased with how his players have responded to his methods.

“The players came back after three weeks of holiday and in most cases two weeks before the start of the games but they came back really strong physically,” he added.

“Compliments to the players for how they came back and like I have said we haven’t changed much compared to the former regime, so it is not so difficult for them to start playing again. That was a very positive thing.”

Much has been said about how Liverpool could evolve under Slot to a more possession-based game and away from the frantic press and high tempo employed by his predecessor Jurgen Klopp.

The Dutchman didn’t think, however, the performance against Brentford was a radical departure from what had come before.

He said: “I think Liverpool fans saw these performances under Jurgen Klopp many, many, many times. I want to see everybody sprinting back and doing everything they can to avoid conceding a goal and that’s what we did very well today.

“If you keep on insisting in what you do, the execution becomes better. Brentford didn’t have the legs anymore to defend us.”