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Arne Slot has labelled Liverpool’s Champions League encounter against PSV Eindhoven as a game the Reds obviously need to win, but highlighted how his side has reserved their best form for European competitions this season.
Despite Liverpool enduring a difficult campaign, it has taken nine points from four European matches this term, winning both home games against Atletico and Real Madrid. That’s in comparison to the Reds’ domestic form, with Liverpool now losing half of its 12 Premier League games.
Slot’s side began the fifth round of fixtures in the automatic qualification places, and three wins from the final four games should secure a top-eight finish. Beating PSV at home would be a massive step towards Liverpool achieving that ambition.
“It's obvious that we can use a win, although in the Champions League, we've won three out of four, which is, I think, normal for a club like us, but yeah, another time, PSV, I've played quite a lot against them as a player and also as a manager,” Slot summed up during Tuesday’s press conference.
But he is anticipating a tough match against a side that won seven league matches in a row and has lost just one of its four opening Champions League games this season.
“I wouldn't say it's a good opponent to have right now,” claimed Slot. “They're probably better than ever.
“I think they had a difficult spell last season. In the end of the season, maybe didn't start that well in the first part of the season, although the results were good, but the last two, three months they are just a winning machine.
“They’re very comfortable on the ball, defensively, much more solid than at the start of the season or the period they had last season.
“I think this team comes close to the best team he's managed at PSV, but it's for him to answer that question,” Slot added, on his opposite number, Peter Bosz, who is in his third season in charge of the club.
“They do really well being six points clear above Feyenoord. That’s already a compliment because Feyenoord does really well this season. So that tells you how good they are doing.”
PSV beat Liverpool last season in the Champions League when the sides met in the final match of the league phase, although Slot’s side had already secured a top-two finish by that stage and rested almost the entire team.
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