Slot: 'You Can Never Breathe' in Premier League Title Pursuit

Arne Slot says Liverpool must stay focused as they pursue a record-equalling 20th English title, warning that 'you can never breathe' in the Premier League.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has praised the fighting spirit of Liverpool's players, acknowledging that the team's determination was crucial in their hard-fought 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.

Three points at Anfield 👊🔴 #LIVWOL pic.twitter.com/Dozni5CzbZ

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 16, 2025

Despite being “fatigued,” Liverpool managed to secure a vital victory, moving seven points clear of second-placed Arsenal in the Premier League standings. The Reds took an early lead through Luis Diaz's opener, followed by a Mohamed Salah penalty before halftime at Anfield.

However, Liverpool's comfortable start was short-lived, as Wolverhampton Wanderers staged an impressive comeback. Matheus Cunha's powerful blast reduced the deficit, and Liverpool were forced to dig deep to hold on for the win in the closing stages.

👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/Usg6bWd5CT

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 16, 2025

The victory marked Liverpool's first win in three games across all competitions, providing a much-needed boost for the Premier League leaders. Slot's praise for Liverpool's fighting spirit highlights the team's resilience and determination in securing the win despite their fatigue.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised his team's resilience and goalkeeper Alisson Becker's crucial saves in their hard-fought 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. “This one is big. We needed to fight and we needed Alisson,” Slot said. He acknowledged that Wolves' aggressive approach had pushed Liverpool to their limits.

A BIG challenge from Jarell ❌ pic.twitter.com/HFnp6Ep009

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 16, 2025

Slot recognized that Liverpool's performance was far from perfect, but he was proud of his team's ability to adapt and secure the win. “Wolves took a lot of risks. In a season where you want to achieve something, you need to have wins like this as well,” he explained. Slot also noted that Liverpool's game plan was not to create nothing at all, but rather to respond to Wolves' increasing pressure.

Slot acknowledged that Liverpool's mentality was tested, particularly after two emotionally draining matches against Everton and Plymouth. “It's never the game plan never to create anything at all. They got better and better, we got worse and worse,” he said. “We had to show a different mentality and got it over the line. If this is what it takes to win a game then I'm happy the players could do that again.”

The Liverpool manager admitted that fatigue had become a significant issue for his team, particularly after their recent matches. “Fatigue comes from running a lot and a bit of mental fatigue a lot. We were mentally tested today,” Slot said. He acknowledged that the team's mental fatigue may have contributed to their tiredness, adding, “Maybe it did lead to us being a bit tired.”

Slot observed that this was the first time this season he had seen his players looking genuinely tired. “I did see for the first time this season that players were more tired than they have been,” he noted. Despite this, Slot emphasized the importance of defending and resilience in achieving success. “If you want to achieve something it is not only about bringing the ball out from the back or Mo scoring goals, it is also about defending.”

Liverpool's Title Pursuit Continues

Liverpool's ability to grind out a fourth win in their last five league matches kept Arsenal at bay in the title race. Chasing a record-equalling 20th English title and their first since 2020, Liverpool are 13 games away from the trophy. They face significant clashes with Aston Villa, Manchester City and Newcastle in their next three league games.

And Slot knows Arsenal - who have finished runners-up for the last two seasons - will do everything they can to take the race to a dramatic conclusion. “If you look at the last few seasons it has mostly been a battle between two teams. As things stand now it mostly looks like between us and Arsenal,” he said. “You can never breathe in this competition. I saw Arsenal's 15-game unbeaten run and the gap has always been the same so that shows that we do. If you want to compete for something special then you have to win a lot of games in this league.”

Slot was able to sit on the bench against Wolves despite being charged with abusive behaviour towards the match officials after being sent off at the end of the stormy Merseyside derby. The Dutchman could eventually face a suspension and he said: “It is an ongoing process, it is not smart to talk about it. We've seen the comments from the referee and now we can say our part. It's down to a panel to decide if I get a ban.”