Premier League LIVE: Slot & Guardiola speaking before Tuesday’s matches

Liverpool

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Liverpool manager Arne Slot was asked if he felt this had been a tough season:

“That is fair to say [this is the toughest season I have had] by a mile. All of the other seasons I have managed there were only positives, I don’t think I have ever lost two games in a row. It’s an exception for me this season and it is for the players, they are not used to losing a lot or having a lot of draws. I am not used to that either.

“It’s always more of a challenge after you lose a game of football to get them going again and after a win tell them that we are not as good as they might think they are, so this season has been more challenging for me as well.

“You also take nice things out of it, though that may sound weird. I also look at how much improvement we are making. As a manager we are always looking for results but it is also important the players and the team improves because if that doesn’t happen we would have an even bigger problem over here.

“But in my opinion everyone is now able, maybe not those who are injured, to play every three days at the intensity level that is needed at this club and in the Premier League as well.

“As a result, our performances are much, much, much better than they were at the start of the season. I don’t mean the first six games, but when we started playing a double programme [including midweek European and domestic cup games].

“The first six games we only had one double programme with Everton, that was a difficult win, and since we went into the double programme we have started to drop so many points.”