Arne Slot has said Liverpool have exceeded his expectations by winning their opening four Premier League matches but must improve as they start their Champions League campaign on Wednesday at home against Atlético Madrid.
Liverpool’s perfect start has them top but they have won each game late, becoming the first Premier League side to win four consecutive matches with goals scored after the 80th minute. The results follow the death of Diogo Jota and more than £400m of signings designed to make the squad more suited to Slot’s vision.
“I think we are far above my expectations from during this summer,” Slot said, before referring first to Jota’s death. “We all knew what happened this summer, and when the schedule came out we had to face Newcastle away and Arsenal and Bournemouth at home, and Burnley away turned out to be a difficult one. So for us to be on 12 points now is so much more than I expected, especially when we had so many changes in the squad. I think we can do better but not every time we are going to face Newcastle away and Arsenal at home.”
Slot has included Alexander Isak in the squad for the first time after leaving him out for the win at Burnley on Sunday. The striker was not deemed able to play twice in a week after missing pre-season and the head coach wanted him available for the start of the European campaign.
“It is 100% sure he will not play 90 minutes, but he is part of the squad,” Slot said. “So it is already a Champions League game to look forward to but if people look forward to his playing time that could mean that could happen tomorrow as well.”
Virgil van Dijk has played against Isak numerous timesand talked up the Swede’s ability on Tuesday. “He’s a clinical finisher. I think if you look at his finishing skills, heading left, right, top corners, he’s the complete striker at the moment and same you can say from Hugo [Ekitiké]. Very good, very eager, obviously the quality he’s been showing already since, I think, the first session.”
Van Dijk said he had spoken to Isak during the international break. “For him it’s obviously about getting as fit as possible, as quickly as possible, getting to understand each one of us as quickly as possible, how we train, how we press, how we do set pieces. So it’s been a good week for him and let’s see tomorrow.”
Liverpool have ambitions to challenge for the Champions League after being knocked out in the last 16 by Paris Saint-Germain on penalties last season. Atlético’s visit is the start of a difficult-looking league stage for Slot’s side, who then travel to Galatasaray and will also face Eintracht Frankfurt, Real Madrid, PSV and Inter before Christmas.
“I’m confident that we can show Europe that we are a fantastic team, but you have to work for it,” Van Dijk said. “It’s all about the work that you put in, obviously on the pitch but off the pitch as well, in order to be at your best.”
