Arne Slot shoots down suggestions of Liverpool nerves as he leans on experience – Liverpool FC

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot dismissed strategies nerves are beginning to have an effect on his facet and believes his gamers have the expertise to deal with the strain of a title run-in.

Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Wolves, through which they endured a nail-biting final 25 minutes after the guests scored, was the sixth match the Premier League leaders have received by the margin of 1 aim.

The Dutchman has his personal expertise of profitable a title with Feyenoord two years in the past however inherited a dressing room stuffed with Premier League champions from 2020 when he moved to Anfield in the summertime.

He’s backing the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Mohamed Salah to guide the squad via some extra inevitably testing occasions.

“I believe it at all times helps in case you have skilled it already, that’s not solely me but additionally for the gamers,” he stated.

“We lean quite a bit on the gamers as a result of we practice with them, I give them a pre-match assembly to attempt to put together them in the absolute best method however from that second onwards you lean on the gamers – how a lot work-rate do they wish to put in, how nicely do they execute the gameplan, do they adapt to what the opposite workforce does?

“It helps not within the sense they’ve received the league right here possibly however they’re used to enjoying huge video games of their profession with quite a lot of strain: Macca (Alexis Mac Allister) has received a World Cup.

“I believe it helps you if a workforce or a participant already received one thing however don’t make that too huge since you nonetheless must play for it and you may’t examine the circumstances.

“So those that received the league right here already that was in Corona(virus) time with followers not being within the stadium and at a sure level they have been 25 factors up so you possibly can hardly discuss strain then.

“Though I’m the kind of supervisor that if there are 10 video games to be performed and I’m 25 factors up I nonetheless really feel like ‘oh, now we have to win’ however there was hardly any strain then.

“However we do lean on the gamers as a result of they’ve to point out up and convey the performances in however not within the method the place at present or tomorrow they current a gathering on methods to cope with the strain, that’s not the way it works.”

Liverpool head to Aston Villa on Wednesday with the prospect to open up a psychologically necessary 10-point hole over second-placed Arsenal.

That may be their largest lead since profitable the league for the primary time in 30 years in 2020.

Slot is aware of it can current a tricky take a look at, which is then adopted by a visit to face Manchester Metropolis earlier than Newcastle go to subsequent Wednesday.

However he’s comfy along with his facet reaching slender victories as he is aware of it’s not at all times attainable to blow sides away.

“We’ve performed extra video games dwelling or away that we led by one aim and in the long run it was additionally tight: I can bear in mind Crystal Palace away was actually tight in the long run and Vitor Jaros needed to make a giant save to safe the win,” he added.

“If this occurs on the finish of the season individuals – you guys (the media) – are going to speak about nerves.

“However securing a win within the Premier League, if you’re solely main by one aim, is at all times going to be quite a lot of defending and arduous work.

“Throughout giant components of the season it’s simply arduous work and in the long run a part of the season we discuss nerves – not me however lots of people discuss nerves.

“We’ve managed many occasions to get a win over the road. In a powerful league you generally concede a aim within the final minute.”

Ahead Cody Gakpo stays unavailable with a foot damage, whereas the membership must assess Joe Gomez additional earlier than deciding whether or not he requires surgical procedure on a hamstring damage which can see him miss a big a part of the run-in.