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Arne Slot, manager of Liverpool, insists that crisis-hit Manchester United are “much, much better” than their current Premier League standing suggests as he prepares for a high-stakes clash with their rivals on Sunday.
Liverpool currently sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League, with the team considered favorites to win their 20th English top-flight title, which would see them match Manchester United’s record.
In stark contrast, United find themselves 14th in the table after five defeats in their last six matches under new manager Ruben Amorim.
Despite the disparity in form, Slot, also in his first season managing in England, is determined not to underestimate United. When asked about potentially resting players for the match, he responded at Friday’s pre-match press conference, saying: “No, of course not. It’s a big game, and I’ve said before the first fixture (a 3-0 win at Old Trafford) that United have much better players than their league position indicates.”
Slot added, “It might take a while for Ruben Amorim to bring out the best in his players, but they will definitely improve. They are much, much better than the league table shows right now.”
The Dutch manager also expressed sympathy for his counterpart at Old Trafford, acknowledging the pressure of the job. “Every manager sympathizes with another because we all understand the pressure this job brings,” Slot said. “That’s no different for him than it is for me or any other manager in the Premier League or elsewhere.”
Slot was also asked about the future of Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, given that his contract expires at the end of the season. Along with Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk are also able to talk to foreign clubs in January.
The Liverpool manager reassured fans, stating that Alexander-Arnold remains “fully committed” to the club. “Hopefully, he brings the same performances as he did in the last half-year, because everyone saw how great a first half of the season he had,” Slot added. “He’s fully here, fully committed, and wants to win with Liverpool.”
