By Bosun Obafemi
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has urged his players to approach the remaining three fixtures of the season with a “finals” mentality, as the Reds pursue an unprecedented treble of domestic and European silverware. With the Premier League trophy in sight, a slim lead over Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League tie, and a League Cup final against Newcastle looming, Slot is challenging his squad to stay focused and deliver crucial wins.
The Reds’ impressive form this season has left them poised for glory on multiple fronts, but Slot emphasized the importance of maintaining their high standards as they enter a critical period. First up is a Premier League clash with struggling Southampton at Anfield on Saturday, and Slot has called on the fans to play their part in creating a charged atmosphere to spur the team on.
Despite Liverpool being heavy favorites to extend their comfortable lead at the top of the Premier League table with a win over relegation-threatened Southampton, Slot remains unwavering in his focus. “Our full focus, my full focus, is now on Southampton, which is the first of three finals to be played in the upcoming week,” he said on Friday.
Slot has been keen to guard against any complacency among his players as they prepare for a high-stakes run-in. He stressed the importance of the supporters’ energy, saying: “I hope, I truly hope, that our fans will be as loud as possible, at the loudest tomorrow. And not in the final and not against PSG, but tomorrow.”
“I have to convince my players that we play three finals,” Slot continued. “And I’m hoping, and that’s why I every time I come up with the word final, that I influence our fans a bit as well, that they understand how important they’re going to be tomorrow.”
The manager also called for fans to arrive early and fully engage in the atmosphere: “I’m hoping they will not come into the stadium five minutes before the kick-off. I’m hoping the whole stadium is already completely filled half an hour before kick-off, and that these players get the reward for what they did in Paris, for working so hard.”
Reflecting on Liverpool’s narrow 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, Slot acknowledged that the result owed a great deal to luck and goalkeeper Alisson Becker’s heroics, but also took a moment to praise his players for their resilience. “But, as Michael Jordan once said, the harder you work, the more luck you have. And this is the biggest compliment you have to give the players,” he said.
With history on the line, Slot’s message is clear: stay focused, maintain the intensity, and keep pushing for victory in every match.
