Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has insisted that his team are not focused on where they are in the Premier League table.
Most pundits have now made it a two-horse race for the title, with Arsenal closing the gap to four points after their win against Spurs midweek. Asked for his thoughts on the battle for top spot, Slot replied:
“I don’t think we are as much as the media thinking about the league table every second of the day. We are trying to get the best out of the players, and with ‘we’ I mean my staff and the players trying to get the best out of themselves every single day.”
“These players know how long the season still is and how many games they have to be in the best possible form to win something in the end of the season, which is not something that happens every single season. We are not so focused on the league as other people are.”
Liverpool can put the pressure back on Arsenal this weekend
The Reds face Brentford on Saturday afternoon, meaning they will kick off a few hours before their title rivals, who host Aston Villa in the evening.
It means that Slot’s men can extend the gap once more to 7 points before the Gunners play. That could prove to be significant. Of course, if the Merseysiders do draw or lose, it will only give their rivals further encouragement, but it is always good to be playing first, no matter the circumstances.
Brentford v Liverpool team news
Diogo Jota (knock) and Luis Diaz (illness) are both doubts for the game, while Joe Gomez (hamstring) has already been ruled out. Darwin Nunez will, though, return from his one-match ban, having missed the draw versus Nottingham Forest after picking up five yellow cards.
Brentford have seven absentees including Igor Thiago (knee), Gustavo Nunes (back), Ryan Trevitt (Achilles), Joshua Dasilva (knee), Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Kristoffer Ajer (ankle) and Ethan Pinnock (hamstring).
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