Arne Slot sends strong Liverpool message before critical transfer window - 'Hope nobody feels that'

Arne Slot says another transitional summer cannot be used as an excuse at Liverpool as he targets a massive improvement going forward

Arne Slot says Liverpool cannot use a transition period this summer as an excuse for next season - admitting huge improvements are needed across the board at Anfield.

The Reds, who officially lost their Premier League champions' status when Arsenal were declared winners on Tuesday night, will secure Champions League football if they avoid defeat at home to Brentford in the final game of a difficult second season for Slot.

Liverpool have lost 20 games in all competitions across the course of this campaign, leading to speculation about the Dutchman's suitability to continue as head coach.

Slot, who is set to stay on, accepts that a critically important summer is fast approaching but rejected the idea that more changes within the squad should mean lower expectations either internally or from the club's fans.

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The Reds boss said: "When I say we are in a transition I don’t mean to not expect anything from us [next season]. I hope nobody feels that. I was expecting, just as you all here, that we were more able to compete for things than we were this season.

"Although we lost in the FA Cup to the team that won the FA Cup (Manchester City) and we lost in the Champions League to a team that not one team could beat over two legs (finalists Paris Saint-Germain).

"Then of course there was the Premier League where we had no chance to win it - that was clear after 10 or 15 games. It is not saying: 'Oh, don’t expect anything from this team'. Definitely not.

"This team has showed that we were able already to be at a certain level and we can only evolve this team. And if we can do the right things over the summer, things can only improve."

On what he needs to change at Liverpool before the new campaign begins in August, Slot added: "I think we have to do better in many phases of the game next season.

"So set-pieces is one, scoring goals from them and we have not scored enough goals from open play. We have not generated enough chances from open play.

"So, yeah, there are quite a lot of things that we have to improve but it has been shown at other clubs that making two signings in the winter break can make a massive effect.

"So I am not saying these two make the difference but sometimes you have to add stuff to a team so that the rest can evolve and get better as well.

"And that is completely normal for a club that is in transition. Especially at a club like this because we cannot complete a transition in one window, for obvious reasons.

"I think Jurgen Klopp's best team that was competing for every single trophy at that time took a few years to bring together as well.

"And we have made very good steps in terms of signings last summer and these players will evolve with the ones we already had and if we can add one or two then, I think, we as a group will look much better next year."

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