Liverpool manager Arne Slot has labeled the Premier League as “the most difficult league to win” as he gears up for a challenging run of five matches in just 15 days.
This demanding schedule kicks off with the highly anticipated Merseyside derby against Everton on February 12.
Slot, who is experiencing his first taste of this fierce rivalry, will also be part of history as this marks the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park before Everton’s move to their new stadium next season.
A victory would give Liverpool a commanding nine-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the table, but Slot remains cautious.
Slot Warns Against Complacency in Title Race
“It is a big gap, but in this league, losing one or two games can allow other teams to catch up quickly.”
“In this league, teams can go on long winning streaks—10, 15 games in a row.
“Arsenal showed that last season when they returned from Qatar and won 15 out of 17 matches.
Manchester City, too, were trailing Arsenal at this stage last season, but then they started winning every single game.
“That tells you that the Premier League is probably the most difficult league to win. You cannot afford to slow down, not even for a second, because other teams are always ready to capitalize.”
Liverpool’s grueling schedule sees them travel to Aston Villa and Manchester City, while also hosting Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United.
Slot acknowledges the difficulty of this period but insists every phase of the season is crucial.
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“I think every period in the Premier League is defining because so many teams are competitive,” he added.
“If you have a few bad weeks, the league will punish you. But five games in 15 days, against tough opponents, makes this stretch even harder.
“There are no easy fixtures here. In other leagues, you might have games where you expect to win comfortably, but that’s not the case in the Premier League.”
Learning from FA Cup Defeat to Plymouth
Liverpool heads into the Merseyside derby after a shocking FA Cup fourth-round exit against Plymouth Argyle. A much-rotated Reds side fell to a 1-0 defeat, with the League One club advancing to face Manchester City in the next round.
While Slot does not expect that result to impact his first-choice players, he believes there are key lessons to take from the loss, particularly in dealing with Everton’s direct style of play.
“We played with a different team, so the players who will feature against Everton weren’t involved.”
“However, Plymouth and Everton have similar styles, so we’ve learned things that we need to improve on.
“The goal we conceded came from a penalty after a long throw-in. Plymouth also had chances from set-pieces and second balls.
“Everton, like Plymouth, will look to put balls into the box, use long throws, and constantly apply pressure. We must be ready for every second of the game because if we lose focus, they can punish us.”
Facing David Moyes’ Resurgent Everton
Everton won this fixture last season, delivering a significant blow to Liverpool’s title hopes. Under David Moyes, who returned to the club in January, the Toffees have been in excellent form.
Moyes, who previously managed Everton from 2002 to 2013, has already overseen three consecutive Premier League victories, helping them climb away from relegation danger.
Another win in midweek could propel them above West Ham, Manchester United, and Tottenham into 13th place—solidifying their resurgence.
Slot has deep respect for the experienced Scotsman, acknowledging the impact he has made on Everton over the years.
“When he first took over, Everton were in a relegation battle, but he transformed them into a club competing for the top four,” Slot said.
“Now, he has returned and won three of his first four league games, showing he’s on a similar trajectory to his first spell.
“He has managed 700 Premier League games, which speaks volumes about his expertise. Every manager facing him knows the challenge he presents, and especially at Everton, where he has a deep history.”
With the Merseyside derby set to be a high-intensity encounter, Liverpool will need to be at their best to maintain their title charge.
