Arne Slot offers verdict on Champions League race after major Liverpool boost

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is taking nothing for granted in the race for the Champions League spots, with Chelsea having been overtaken and Man Utd and Aston Villa in sight

Arne Slot during a Liverpool press conference.(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Arne Slot is taking nothing for granted after Liverpool moved into the Champions League places over the weekend, with a double-header against Wolves up next.

After Aston Villa and Chelsea both lost, Liverpool made up ground in the race for a top-five finish, boosting its chances of qualifying for UEFA's premiere competition. Those two teams play each other on Wednesday at Villa Park, a day after the Reds take on Wolves at Molineux.

"Wolves are doing much better than their results show," Slot said. "The whole season, they've hardly been beaten by a big goal difference. Recently they've been getting points and a win against Villa. It'll be a difficult game tomorrow."

Liverpool can move level with Aston Villa and Manchester United on 51 points in the Premier League if it beats Wolves. However, Slot says his side will only focus on itself.

"So many things have gone against us this season," Slot said. "In terms of performances, only the first half against Nottingham Forest was not of our standards (lately).

"It's changed how entertaining the Premier League is because of playing styles.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

"Two weeks ago, you could say we are not that well placed. Things change really fast. We are really close together with a few teams and things can change every single matchday.

"We focus on our next game, on ourselves. We know every game has been difficult throughout the whole season and that's what we expect now."

For the game against Wolves, Liverpool will be without Florian Wirtz. The German could miss both matches against Rob Edwards' men this week with a back injury.

"The game probably comes too soon tomorrow and maybe the game at the weekend," Slot confirmed when asked if there was an update on Wirtz. "We hope to have him back next week."

Swedish striker Alexander Isak is sidelined with a broken leg at the moment. He is working his way back to full sharpness and could return at the end of the month following the international break.

Wataru Endo, meanwhile, has undergone surgery on the injury he sustained at Sunderland. Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu said last week that his hopes of playing at the World Cup are not over but he won't play again this season.

Full-back Jeremie Frimpong returned against West Ham last weekend but his fitness will need to be managed. Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are long-term absentees, but Joe Gomez is another option at right-back.