Slot: My toughest campaign 'by a mile' as Reds need 'perfection' to make CL

Arne Slot has labelled the current season “by a mile” the most demanding of his managerial career after Liverpool’s 2-1 home defeat to Manchester City left the club five points adrift of the Champions League places.

The setback, sealed by a late turnaround at Anfield on Sunday, dropped the reigning Premier League champions to sixth and intensified scrutiny on Slot, who succeeded Jürgen Klopp less than two seasons ago. Liverpool have now lost successive matches for the first time in the Dutchman’s tenure, a run that has coincided with Manchester United’s resurgence under Michael Carrick and Aston Villa’s continued form.

“All the other seasons I’ve managed there were only positives,” Slot reflected. “I don’t think I’ve ever lost two games in a row before. It’s an exception this season for me, as it is for the players. They’re not used to losing a lot or having a lot of draws.”

With United in fourth and Villa a further three points ahead, Slot accepts the margin for error has vanished. “To close the gap of four, five points to third, fourth, fifth, that means you have to win a lot, and that’s not what we’ve done this season. We have to come close to perfection.”

The timing of City’s winner underlined how quickly hopes can fade. “Seven minutes before the end we thought we were five points behind City; five minutes later we were 11 points behind. Margins are indeed very small,” he said.

Failure to secure a top-five finish would carry heavy consequences. “If we don’t have Champions League football, it’s definitely not been an acceptable season,” Slot warned, noting the commercial impact after last year’s Europa League campaign restricted the club to a solitary summer signing, Federico Chiesa.

Wednesday’s trip to Sunderland, the league’s only side still unbeaten at home, now carries added weight. Liverpool will be without Dominik Szoboszlai after his stoppage-time red card for pulling Erling Haaland, a decision that also saw Rayan Cherki’s long-range equaliser ruled out. Slot refused to criticise the officials: “The referee did what he had to do. That’s not what we like if we love football, but it’s the rule book.”

In Szoboszlai’s absence, Slot may deploy Curtis Jones or Wataru Endo at right-back, with Joe Gomez only returning to training on Tuesday. Despite the mounting setbacks, the manager praised his squad’s resilience: “Three days later they show up again and bring in a good performance.”

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher believes the climb is now too steep. “Right now I don’t” see Liverpool qualifying via the league, he said, citing the form of rivals and a squad that “never looks stable.” Gary Neville offered a more optimistic view, insisting a four-point gap to the top five is surmountable if Liverpool “box up” the City loss and respond with a statement win on Wearside. “Go and win at Sunderland emphatically,” Neville challenged. “That’s where everyone needs to look now for Liverpool.”

The task is clear: victory against the Black Cats is all but essential to keep fading Champions League hopes alive.