‘Don’t jump to conclusions’ about Premier League defeats in Europepublished at 10:01 GMT
10:01 GMT
Liverpool v Tottenham (Sun, 16:30 GMT)
Liverpool manager Arne Slot on why Premier League teams struggled in the Champions League last 16 – with four defeats and two draws from the six ties involving English sides: “[Important] not to jump to a conclusion after one game day. That’s such a small sample size, that’s never the smartest thing to do because maybe after next week we will completely have a different conclusion.”
On whether scheduling is an issue?: “In general it is not helpful for English clubs not to have a winter break, but I am not saying that all these teams have lost because we don’t have a winter break. Why? Because in the last 16 of Europe you are facing very good teams. And five out of the four Premier League teams played away from home.
“Let’s first judge us all after next week and then maybe even then it is too early to jump to conclusions.”
Slot said margins were small in Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle games and added he did not see the 3-0 coming for Manchester City after watching the opening stages of that match, and he added: “Jumping to conclusions from one game is not usually what I would do.”