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Despite a flawless start to the season, Liverpool manager Arne Slot acknowledges there's "still room for improvement". He admits that the demanding fixture schedule means his squad won't always be at their peak performance.
Their most recent triumph was in the Merseyside derby, where the Reds clinched a 2-1 victory over Everton at Anfield. This came hot on the heels of a last-minute winner against Atletico Madrid in their opening Champions League match.
Slot's team have consistently delivered late goals, netting in the final moments against teams like Bournemouth, Newcastle and Burnley. The Dutch coach remains impressed with his team's resilience game after game despite limited rest periods, but maintains it's "not an excuse" if performances fall short.
In anticipation of Liverpool's Carabao Cup third round clash against Southampton on Tuesday night, Slot penned in his programme notes: "In terms of the game itself, we go into it on the back of a victory over our neighbours Everton in the Merseyside derby.
"That win maintained a start to the season which has definitely been promising, even though we know there is still room for improvement.
"This victory gave me a great deal of pleasure, not only because it came in a derby, but mainly because it followed a demanding schedule of Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday fixtures.
"Inevitably, our energy levels weren't the same at the end of such a testing week as they were at the start.
"I need to stress once again this is not an excuse. Firstly, we do not need one because we won the game, and secondly it is an explanation worth reiterating given the demands placed on our players. The way they faced up to this challenge showed such a strong collective mentality, and winning such a tough fixture is a huge credit to them."
Slot has already suggested significant alterations to his starting XI to face the Saints, who dropped down from the Premier League last season.
Alexander Isak might be handed a starting berth, with the Swedish forward set to assume a crucial role moving forward as he builds his fitness levels following a disrupted pre-season period.
Liverpool's subsequent league encounter takes them to in-form Crystal Palace this Saturday, where Isak is anticipated to feature at Selhurst Park.
In seven days' time, the Reds will again be travelling, this time to Turkey to take on Galatasaray in the Champions League.
Over a 16-day stretch in September, Liverpool will have contested six matches spanning three separate competitions, underlining just how demanding this spell proves for Slot's squad.
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