Liverpool head coach Arne Slot believes Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester City at Anfield presents an opportunity for his side to demonstrate their progress, after suffering a heavy 3–0 defeat to the champions at the Etihad Stadium in November.
The Reds go into the fixture buoyed by a convincing 4–1 win over Newcastle United, while second-placed City arrive having dropped points in a 2–2 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur, where they relinquished a two-goal lead.
Reflecting on the earlier meeting between the sides, Slot acknowledged the gap that existed at the time but stressed that his team has since developed.
“I mainly remember the game at the Etihad, where we were outplayed for large parts of the first half,” Slot said. “This match is another benchmark for us, a chance to assess where we are in the development of this team. We understand the importance of the result.”
Slot also pointed to key moments in November’s defeat that shaped the outcome, while making clear his desire for a different performance this time around.
“Our disallowed goal and the penalty they received after VAR intervention helped City, and conceding from a set piece didn’t help either,” he added. “Those details matter in games like that. This time, we want to show a different side.”
Liverpool currently sit sixth in the Premier League table with 39 points from 24 matches, and Slot acknowledged that the season has entered a decisive phase.
“It’s the end stage of the campaign, so results become more important,” he said. “Apart from that first half against City and the game against Palace, we’ve shown we can compete with every team. The consistency of results hasn’t always been there, but in terms of performance, we’ve shown we can match the top sides.”
On the team news front, Slot confirmed that defender Jeremie Frimpong will miss the weekend fixture, though Joe Gomez could return to strengthen the back line.
The Dutchman also addressed Liverpool’s decision to sign four young central defenders during the winter transfer window — Jeremy Jacquet, Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Mor Talla Ndiaye and Noah Adekoya — framing the move as part of longer-term planning.
“Hopefully Virgil can stay fit for many more years, but this club plans ahead,” Slot said. “We know that at some point there will be life after Virgil, just as there is for every position. We don’t think only in the short term.”
