Arne Slot has expressed shock at Chelsea’s important drop in kind this season, particularly given how aggressive they have been of their earlier encounter with Liverpool. The 2 sides met at Anfield in October, with Curtis Jones scoring the winner in a slender 2-1 victory for Liverpool. Regardless of the loss, Chelsea’s efficiency was spectacular, they usually appeared poised to be a critical contender beneath supervisor Enzo Maresca.
Nonetheless, whereas Slot’s crew has gone on to safe the league title with ease, Chelsea has struggled, tumbling down the Premier League desk and now dealing with a battle to safe Champions League qualification. Slot admitted he didn’t foresee Chelsea’s dramatic decline, notably after their sturdy exhibiting at Anfield.
“I’m fully shocked by the hole between us now as a result of at the moment, they have been the higher crew on the pitch,” Slot mentioned in his pre-match press convention. “However we discovered a solution to win, and that’s a high quality we hadn’t wanted a lot, however we needed to endure greater than in some other sport.”
Regardless of Chelsea’s kind, Slot isn’t anticipating a straightforward match when the 2 groups meet once more on Sunday. He praised Chelsea for his or her consistency in fashion, noting their tendency to push defenders into midfield—one thing Liverpool struggled to defend of their earlier assembly. “They’ve so many good gamers, and that’s the most important problem you face towards them,” Slot added.
Sunday’s conflict can be Liverpool’s first match since securing the league title. Slot shared that he’s been receiving congratulatory messages, together with one from Liverpool supervisor Jürgen Klopp. “What did he say? Congratulations, now I do know what a particular membership it’s, I’m a part of historical past,” Slot revealed. “He was actually pleased for the followers and the membership.”