Arne Slot Sets Sights on Top Four Finish for Liverpool

Arne Slot Press Conference

Arne Slot outlines target for Liverpool's season run-in, targeting Champions League spot. Midfielder commits future to Reds, but Arne Slot seeks improved consistency. Rio Ngumoha in line for starting spot against Tottenham, impressing Arne Slot in training.

Arne Slot outlines target for Liverpool's season run-in, aiming for Champions League qualification...

Liverpool boss Arne Slot is optimistic about turning their week around after Tuesday's 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray. The Reds face Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday, followed by the return leg against Galatasaray, where they'll look to overturn the deficit.

Slot has taken responsibility for the loss, acknowledging that Liverpool created enough chances to score but failed to capitalize on them. He's hopeful that Alisson Becker will be fit for Sunday's game, but is prioritizing his availability for the Champions League return leg.

Slot insisted this morning: “We don't think everything should be much worse than it was before but we didn't play our best game of the season. I also saw for an away leg in Europe we were able to generate enough chances to score a goal.

“More than another team might do away in CL, but we have struggled with converted the chances we have and we have a bad cocktail of conceding chances and goals. If we cannot repair that every game will be difficult.

“But I have confidence we have quality players and the next two games are at home.

“I am really looking forward to playing twice at home now with the support from the fans that can make a massive difference.”

Liverpool Favored to Win Against Struggling Tottenham at Anfield

Liverpool is expected to win against Tottenham at Anfield, with Arne Slot acknowledging the high expectations placed on his team. Tottenham is currently struggling, having not won a league game since the start of the year and conceding 14 goals in their last four games.

The Opta supercomputer gives Liverpool a 65.1% chance of winning, while Tottenham has only a 16.1% chance. Liverpool's dominance is evident in their head-to-head record, having lost just one of their last 31 home league games against Spurs.

Tottenham's struggles are further compounded by injuries, with key players like Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Joao Palhinha unavailable. Liverpool, on the other hand, will look to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League.

He continued: “I think if Spurs are first in league everyone would still expect us to win at Anfield. Same as Man City, Arsenal...we are expected to win at home.

“We can win our 1500th game at home, so expectations come from history, we can win a lot of games, home games, doesn't matter who we face, expectations are always sky high. This club is able to win things. That is what we have done last few years.”

Slot added, “We are a top club, the bar should be high by the people around us. Last season we achieved one of things we wanted to achieve. Won the league, close to winning the Carabao Cup. Now we're still in two cups, CL and FA Cup and we compete.”

Arne Slot spoke of the Reds having ‘a point to prove’ as he previewed Sunday’s Premier League clash with Spurs 👊 #LIVTOT

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 13, 2026

Gravenberch's New Deal a Boost, But Slot Seeks Consistency

Arne Slot praised Ryan Gravenberch's new contract, saying it's a confidence boost for the midfielder and the club. However, Slot noted that Gravenberch hasn't quite replicated last season's form, and he's pushing for more consistency from him.

He explained, “I don't rank them in order, all different profiles, but obvious and clear me and the club sees his importance and signed a new deal as a result of development.

“A young player signed from our model, has the ability to grow. First season wasn't at last season's level but that is normal for young players who develop and there is more to come from them. So that is our model, young players who join a great environment with so many great people working here to improve those players. And when their peak is coming they are still playing for us.”

Arne Slot highlighted Ryan Gravenberch's ongoing development as a "great example" after the midfielder recently signed a new deal 💬🇳🇱

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 13, 2026

Ngumoha Poised for Liverpool Debut

Arne Slot says 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha is in line for a starting spot against Tottenham, praising his performances in training. Ngumoha's speed and skill have impressed Slot, and he's ready to make an impact at the top level. 

He confirmed: “It's not that we think so far ahead for his career but we have treated him carefully, I have said that before. He cannot be too many days on the pitch because of stress fractures, players at this club have had that, Jayden Danns but Rio can start for us.

“I said he would get more playing time and we saw that so he is an option to start one of the upcoming three games.”

Slot Aims for Top Four Finish

Arne Slot sets his sights on a top-four finish for Liverpool, targeting a Champions League spot for next season. The Reds currently sit sixth, and Slot believes they have the squad to push for a top-four finish, despite a tough run of fixtures. 

The manager said, “What I want is that I am able that every single player gets the maximum out of everything until the end of the season. That is the aim for me and the players, I am sure.

“It's the only way to get the maximum of what is in it for us. Sometimes we need a bit of luck, like the last-16 last year, penalties, so close to beating PSG and they went on to win it. So the margins are small and we have to fight for them to make them bigger and bigger every day.”

Liverpool is on the cusp of a historic milestone, and Sunday's clash with Tottenham at Anfield is the perfect opportunity to achieve it. A win for Arne Slot's team would see them reach 1500 victories in their illustrious history.

Liverpool has a strong record against Tottenham, winning 37 out of 68 matches, with 15 draws and 16 losses. They're looking to build on their recent 2-1 win at Tottenham in December 2025, where Alexander Isak scored a crucial goal before suffering an injury.