Arne Slot’s reaction to Liverpool’s blowout win at West Ham United on Sunday should be good reading for Reds supporters.
Neither Slot nor his new club’s fans will have expected to hold an eight-point table lead with a match-in-hand on the field heading into the new year.
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After all, Slot was taking the reins from a charismatic club legend like Jurgen Klopp, with bumps in the road expected at Anfield.
Instead, the bumps have been experienced almost everyone else, and Slot has enjoyed watching club megastar Mohamed Salah continue to rewrite the record book.
Salah scored and set up two others in the five-goal win, as the Egyptian is now alone in 10th place all-time for Premier League assists — passing David Beckham. Salah leads the division in both goals and assists this season.
The only bad news for Slot is the questions that continue to come about the futures of Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, the last of whom is reportedly ready to make a move to Real Madrid in the summer.
Arne Slot reaction — How did Liverpool boss react to blowout win at West Ham?
On the win: “The way we played with the ball, the amount of chances we created, and the control we took in an away game, which is always difficult. I don’t think we gave the West Ham fans a lot to cheer about today and that was the most important.”
On Arne Slot’s 2024: “It was a great year working at a great club at Feyenoord. I was wondering if there was another club I could have a better time. It’s probably not as good, it’s better now. To do it in another country is special. A whole year with just one loss is special and it’s Nottingham Forest.”
On the key to a title challenge: “Consistency, enough challenges will come starting with Man United at home which is a big game even if you don’t look at the league table. It’s nine games in January plus the first of February, that’s a lot.”
On Joe Gomez’s injury: “We all know it’s a hamstring and we all know it’ll be a while before he’s back. I don’t know how long he’ll be out but quite a bit.”
Will January 1st change the mood inside Liverpool, as Salah, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold can speak with other teams: “Not on the inside but the outside people will talk even more about it. Not just these three but it’s also a month where people can make transfers. It’ll be about the ones we could bring in or others who could also leave.”
Is Alexander-Arnold’s situation more negative than Salah and Van Dijk? “I don’t think it’s negative. He’s played really well and the way he celebrated his goal tells you enough. I’m really happy with Trent, just as happy as I am with Mo and Virgil.”
