'Reality Is That...': Arne Slot Acknowledges Liverpool Not Living Up To Lofty Standards

Last Updated:February 10, 2026, 18:02 IST

Premier League holders Liverpool have won only six of their last 20 league games since September and just one of their last seven in 2026.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot acknowledged that his team is not performing up to their lofty standards and must be nearly perfect for the rest of the season to qualify for the Champions League. The defending English champions are currently sixth in the Premier League, four points away from the top five, which is likely to secure Champions League qualification for next season.

The Reds conceded twice in a dramatic finale, losing 2-1 to Manchester City on Sunday. However, a more concerning trend for Slot is that Liverpool have won only six of their last 20 league games since September and just one of their last seven in 2026.

“They know what the standards of Liverpool mean, and we are not performing to those standards at the moment, and they feel that disappointment," Slot said.

“Every game, it feels as though we are going to win it, but it doesn’t happen. That is probably more difficult than when you play a game and throughout, you feel like the other team is better, and you’re just not good enough.

“But that’s not what they feel. They feel performance-wise that they can compete with any other team in any league in the world.

“But the reality is that we don’t perform to Liverpool standards."

Leaders Arsenal and City are expected to battle it out for the title, leaving three more places in the Champions League for four likely contenders.

Third-placed Aston Villa are eight points ahead of Liverpool, with in-form Manchester United three points further back in fourth, and Chelsea in fifth.

“To close the gap to numbers three, four, and five, we have to win a lot, and that is not what we have done this season," added Slot.

“That is why it has to be better, and why we have to be close to perfection."

Dominik Szoboszlai’s suspension for a red card against City creates another selection dilemma for Slot. The Hungarian has filled in at right-back in recent weeks with both Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong out injured.

Joe Gomez has only just returned to training, so one of the midfielders Curtis Jones or Wataru Endo is set to start in defence against a Sunderland side which boasts the only undefeated home record in the Premier League this season.

(With Inputs From Agenices)

News sports football 'Reality Is That...': Arne Slot Acknowledges Liverpool Not Living Up To Lofty Standards

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