Arne Slot gives blunt verdict on Liverpool's season so far and what must happen next - 'No excuse'

Liverpool sits fifth in the Premier League and 10 points behind leaders Arsenal, but Arne Slot admits they deserve their position whilst targeting a strong finish to the year

Arne Slot has given a blunt verdict on Liverpool's season so far(Image: Getty Images)

Arne Slot insists that Liverpool can't use any excuses for its challenging first half in the defense of its Premier League title. However, the head coach is aiming for a strong finish to 2025 as the Reds prepare to host bottom-of-the-table Wolves at Anfield on Saturday.

The reigning champions find themselves 10 points behind as we head into this weekend's fixtures, with Arsenal leading the pack two points ahead of Manchester City in second place. Slot's side has already suffered six defeats, all occurring during a tough spell between late September and November.

Liverpool is set to face Rob Edwards's Wolves on Saturday, riding a six-match unbeaten streak across all competitions. This run has propelled the Reds to fifth place in the table, but Slot is acutely aware of the significant improvements that still need to be made in 2026.

"For me we are in the position we deserve after the first half of the season," Slot stated, via the Liverpool Echo.

"I think we should be higher, let that be clear, I was expecting and hoping for us to be even higher in the league table. But even in the last six games, the difference between us and the other team is constantly too small.

"Now we have been a few times a little bit lucky with the result and we need to find a situation where we are so much better than the other team that luck or bad luck does not influence it anymore. I think the games we have lost were unlucky.

Arne Slot has had a much more difficult second season after winning the Premier League title in his first with Liverpool(Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)

"The referees and set-pieces have had an incredible impact on the start of our season, but we should not have that as an excuse.

"That is luck or bad luck. There is always a decision that can go against you or in favour of you. That should not lead to us dropping points. We need to make sure like last season when a lot of decisions went against us as well but it didn't hurt us."

Slot continued: "I have said many times players are getting fitter and fitter, not only the ones we have brought in but also the ones who missed out in pre-season and were a lot of time injured. They are getting used to each other.

"I still think that the best is still to come for this team which I think we all agree on and are hoping for. That is completely normal if you just look at what has happened in the first half-year then I am not so surprised where we are."