Arne Slot insists Liverpool’s clash with Southampton is their ‘most important’ in upcoming week of ‘three finals’ – with PSG and Newcastle ties looming
- Liverpool will look to maintain their title charge when they take on Southampton
- Arne Slot insisted the clash with the Saints is the most important of their season
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Arne Slot has warned Liverpool’s players they face a week of three finals – and that Saturday’s Anfield clash with Southampton is the most important of all.
Liverpool will be expected to beat the Premier League’s bottom team comfortably but Slot, who is expected to make several changes to his starting line-up, has recoiled at the idea this game is being considered by many as a foregone conclusion.
Though the return leg of the Champions League last 16 tie with Paris St Germain and the Carabao Cup clash with Newcastle at Wembley are the fixtures that have grabbed the imagination of supporters, Slot has underlined what is at stake against Southampton.
‘For me Southampton is by far the most important game,’ said Slot. ‘It is a very important one for us. If I make the choice to play other players, it is because I think it is the best way to win the game and not because I want to rest them for PSG.
‘If I do it is because there is only two days in between but that is only to give us a better chance to win against Southampton.
‘I have to convince my players that we play three finals but I am hoping that I influence our fans as well.
Arne Slot has insisted that Liverpool are facing ‘three finals’ in the upcoming week
The Reds will host Southampton in a crucial fixture as they look to maintain their title charge
‘I hope they will not come into the stadium five minutes before the kick off and that it is completely filled half an hour before kick-off so these players get the reward for what they did in Paris.’
Bookmakers Paddy Power have already paid out on the prospect of Liverpool becoming champions and a win at Anfield would see them 16 points clear of Arsenal before they kick-off at Old Trafford on Sunday; their 7-1 win in Eindhoven on Tuesday, however, shows they cannot be discounted.
‘I don’t need to look at Arsenal,’ said Slot, who is likely to be without Cody Gakpo again.
‘We only have to look at the game we played against Southampton away, 3-2 win, very difficult one, two times a goal down, so we don’t look at Arsenal, we only have to look at ourselves.’
