Today marks one of the Reds' toughest fixtures of the entire season: Arsenal away.
Second-place Manchester City and third-place Aston Villa both drew yesterday, leaving first-place Arsenal with a five-point cushion and a game in hand. They have the opportunity to extend that lead to eight and reclaim total control of the title race at the defending champions' expense.
The Emirates will be rocking.
Yesterday's results should have given fourth-place Liverpool a boost of their own. Like City and Villa, Liverpool's closest challengers for fourth (before the day's matches kicked off) dropped points — Chelsea endured their own disappointment at Craven Cottage, losing 2-1, and Manchester United drew at Burnley.
Alas, considering how deflating the last two Liverpool performances were, plus the major concerns around player availability and chance creation as they prepare to face the best team in the country, there isn't a ton to be optimistic about. If Arne Slot's team wins at Arsenal, it will be a shock to most — including, by the sound of it, Slot himself.
"They're in a very positive vibe at the moment and it's obvious that we aren't," he said in his pre-match press conference. "Especially because we've conceded, again, a late goal."
Here's what else the Dutchman had to say — about Liverpool's current struggles, good and bad matchups, potential reinforcements, and more.
On Hugo Ekitike, who missed the last match at Fulham
"He’s not trained with us ‘til now. Let’s see if he can today. I’ve said, I think, two or three days ago when we played Fulham, that he’s not gonna be out for long. But yeah, because games come so fast, he’s in between maybe training with the team or it would take him one or two days extra."
You can't overstate how costly Ekitike's absence would be for Liverpool. Their only player to hit double figures this season with 11 goals in all competitions, he's capable of the match-defining moments that win the close games — and keep the Reds in games when they're being outplayed, which is a distinct possibility against Arteta's side.
On Liverpool's recent form and struggles against teams who sit deep
"I think in the last nine games, I think people have liked our two games against Villa and Brighton more than all the other games we’ve played. And I can exactly tell you why that is, but if I do so, people will tell me, 'How can you make your opponents so much wiser?'"
This was an interesting soundbite from Slot. He's obviously convinced he has a clear picture of the teams we match up with best, and his answer suggests he doesn't want to reveal it to the media. But when pressed further, asked what he makes of fans' claims Liverpool's football is dull and boring, he came right out and said Liverpool looks the worst against teams who play an unattractive style.
"I find [these claims] really hard to hear, but it's not that I completely disagree... We have to find a way against teams that try to make it not an attractive game."
This dovetailed nicely with questions and comments regarding Liverpool's surprising consistency against the top teams. For one, Liverpool beat Arsenal this season. As a member of the press pointed out, it's the only game in which Arsenal failed to score this season in all competitions. It also marked their lowest xG.
And they're not the only ones.
"Inter Milan away, Real Madrid at home, Atletico Madrid at home. Aston Villa..." The manager continued to list triumphs against Europe's elite this season. "We've shown we can compete with almost every team."
It comes with a caveat, though.
On potential January incomings
The head coach shut down inquiries about Marc Guehi and the possibility of recalling Harvey Elliott from Villa. He also explained his total alignment with the summer business and the club's plans for the future.
He didn't shy away from a certain "if," though, which he used more than once.
"This club is in a very good place if everyone is available," he explained.
It's clever from Slot. He's pledging his support to the owners and his peers behind the scenes, while simultaneously suggesting that if he doesn't have all the pieces made available to him this summer — no Isak or Salah, for instance, or countless others who have been on the injured list — you can't be too surprised if the team isn't performing that well.
Everyone is not available at the moment, which is why Slot could definitely use more signings, even though he can't admit it publicly. It's also a major reason Liverpool enters today's rematch with Arsenal as a decided underdog.
Hopefully they can surprise us all.