The Liverpool head coach delivered a blunt response to question about a perceived drop in standards, and Mohamed Salah’s cryptic comments from a recent interview
Arne Slot has rejected claims Liverpool’s standards have been allowed to decline(Image: Getty Images)
Arne Slot has rejected suggestions that standards could drop at Liverpool following the exits of key personnel this summer, and said the club does not need to target reinforcements in the transfer window.
The Reds are set to lose stalwarts Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson at the end of the season, while Alisson may still depart amid interest from Juventus.
As part of his farewell interviews, Salah reflected on how the “bond of the team is changing” and expressed “concern” that standards may not be upheld in his absence. Virgil van Dijk last week also claimed “a lot of work” is needed behind the scenes.
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Liverpool’s players were also criticized for enjoying a leisurely keepy-up game in the Old Trafford tunnel last week, but Slot has defended the standards in the dressing room ahead of Saturday’s game against Chelsea.
“Does Virgil mean the same as what Mo is saying? And what Mo is saying is that standards are really important for a football club,” the Liverpool boss said.
“I cannot agree more with him. I did not hear him say that the standards are not okay now. Did you?
“I’m not worried about it, let’s put it that way. I’m not worried that the standards will be lower next season than they were this season, or the season before, or the season before. No. I’m not worried about it at all.
Salah said last week that he was worried about Liverpool’s standards dropping after his exit(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA, Getty Images)
“The standards are not only important in the gym,” he added, on where standards must be met. “It’s also on the pitch. Okay. You understand me? Without me saying anything?
“I wish I was able to say what I feel at this moment but I can’t. So, how will I answer that question then?
“As I said, I completely agree with him [Salah] how important these standards are. I think they [standards] are in a good place at the moment.
“I think it also makes sense that younger players – it doesn’t have to be the new players, it can be the seven-year-old that comes from the academy – they usually get the example of players like Mo and others for them to understand and to know what it takes to play every three days at this level.
Slot was not pleased with Salah’s recent comments(Image: Getty Images)
“I think that our younger players have improved in this already. I am completely convinced that we have enough players next season – and, add to that, the ones that we will sign – to put the standards exactly into the place they are needed.
“I’m not saying that we need to sign them,” Slot continued, in a passionate response from the Dutchman. “I think we have them already.
“And this [setting standards] is what Mo did when he was 26. I don’t think it comes down to ages that only 32 or 33-year-old players can set standards. They have lived it and experienced it and know what it takes to play at this level.
“But come on, we are not talking about Florian Wirtz or Hugo Ekitike or Alexander Isak and all these players we signed. They are not children, these are serious professionals that now know what it takes to play in the Premier League and Champions League at this level.”