Arne Slot insisted Liverpool confirmed why they’re champions this afternoon regardless of a below-par performance in losing 3-1 at Chelsea.
Reds boss Slot made six modifications to his aspect for the journey to Stamford Bridge, giving a number of fringe gamers the possibility to impress with Liverpool having wrapped up the title following their 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham final weekend.
However they didn’t gel and a Cole Palmer-inspired Chelsea cruised to a throughly deserved three factors.
Slot moderately happy regardless of setback
Regardless of struggling simply their third league defeat of the season, Slot felt there have been moments of promise from his aspect.
He instructed BBC’s Match of the Day: “For a lot of issues I didn’t see a drop off. At the moment, we might see why now we have gained this league – we introduced the ball out from the again rather well.
“We got here again after being 2-0 down and we didn’t hand over, however I’ve stated earlier than margins are small.
“In some moments just a few percentages weren’t there.
“It’ll at all times be a tough sport to play right here, however for us to play the best way we did tells me additionally why we gained the league, but it surely additionally tells me you probably have a small drop off within the remaining third you may concede or not rating.
“A smart man as soon as stated to me ‘nothing good comes from dropping a soccer sport’ and that’s how we expertise it.”
A Jarell Quansah personal objective doubles Chelsea’s lead! 🫣 pic.twitter.com/fLCvzxHs2k
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2025
Slot backs fringe gamers
Slot stated not an excessive amount of could be taken from the performances of his squad gamers, including: “They should play these video games as a result of they’ve educated so arduous this season. Each time they did so nicely in order that’s why I believe they deserved to play this sport. We don’t choose them solely on this sport, we choose them on daily basis on the coaching floor and within the moments that they play for us.”
Slot gained the title regardless of making only one signing final summer time, that of Federico Chiesa who has hardly featured.
And the Dutchman admitted he could look to freshen issues up earlier than Liverpool try to retain their crown subsequent season.
Requested if followers can count on a giant summer time forward, he instructed Sky Sports activities: “It’s already a giant summer time as a result of we prolonged Virgil [van Dijk] and Mo [Salah] and for giant elements of the season, I don’t suppose everybody anticipated that.
“For us to maintain them is a giant factor. I’ve stated already that I’m proud of the squad now we have. We’ll see what the summer time brings however typically it may be good to carry contemporary vitality. [But] Provided that we see somebody in the marketplace who can enhance us.”
Joyful Maresca praises spectacular Chelsea
Chelsea’s win moved them on to 63 factors, the identical as Newcastle and only one fewer than third-placed Manchester Metropolis because the race to safe qualification for the Champions League intensified.
Blues boss Enzo Maresca was delighted along with his group’s show.
“I’ve very impressed with my gamers” 😃
Enzo Maresca reacts after Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Liverpool 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/finTdvIa4a
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2025
He stated: “Crucial three factors, particularly at this stage within the season. This group [Liverpool] confirmed why they’re so good. They compelled us to defend deep which we don’t like.
“We deliberate the sport to be aggressive, taking part in the best way we wish they usually compelled us to make use of a unique plan. The gamers tailored fairly nicely. For the quantity of probabilities that we created, we deserved to win the sport.”
As for his or her top-five aspirations, he added: “For certain, Chelsea has to battle for Champions League and hopefully sooner or later we will battle for one thing extra necessary. On this second we’re there and hopefully we will end there.”
