“Arne Slot: True greatness in teams isn’t found in pausing to admire success, but in pushing forward without pause.”

“Arne Slot: Great teams don’t stop to admire their success—they push forward relentlessly.”

Check out Arne Slot’s programme notes ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated Premier League showdown between Liverpool and Manchester City.

The league leaders welcome the reigning champions to Anfield for a 4pm GMT kick-off, holding an eight-point lead at the top of the table. Spirits are high following a confident 2-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League midweek.

“Wednesday was a truly special night for this club,” Slot begins in his matchday column.

“Beating a team like Real Madrid requires everything to align—the players’ performance, the energy from the crowd, the preparation, and the sheer determination. On Wednesday, we had it all. That’s not to say it was flawless—coaches are always chasing a level of perfection that may never be attainable—but every essential ingredient was present,” writes Slot.

“I liked a lot of what I saw on Wednesday—not everything, but a lot. What stood out most was how everyone, from the players to the fans, understood the victory for what it truly was: another step forward toward our ultimate goal. This doesn’t diminish the importance of the win—it was significant—but as I said afterwards, it was a group-stage victory, not a triumph in the later stages or the final. We enjoyed it, as we should, but we remain aware that there is still much work ahead.

“It’s also worth noting that Real Madrid remains the best team in Europe. They are the reigning Champions League holders, having won the competition just last June,” Slot reflects.

“Sunday’s opponents, Manchester City, find themselves in a similar position, having claimed the Premier League title four years in a row. The quality of these teams speaks for itself, which is why this week is so thrilling, with us facing both of them in just a few days.

“I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Pep Guardiola, his staff, and the players and supporters of Manchester City as they arrive at Anfield. When it comes to trophies, there’s no denying City’s dominance in English football over recent seasons. Yes, they are our rivals, but even amid this rivalry, there is certainly space to acknowledge and respect their achievements and qualities,” Slot adds.

“It’s an intriguing time to face Manchester City, with many questioning them at the moment. I’m not one of those people. I’m not ignoring their recent results, which clearly haven’t met their usual standard, but City still have one of the best managers in the world—if not the best—along with a squad full of top-tier players and a culture of success. That means they can’t be written off, even in difficult times.

“To be clear, they remain one of the best teams, not just in this country, but in the world. We’ve prepared for this match with that in mind. Of course, we’ll bring our own confidence into the game, and we definitely will, but we know that our performance will need to be at least as good, if not better, than it was on Wednesday night.”

“We shouldn’t be surprised by our strong position. The squad I inherited has been performing at a high level for several seasons.

“They are no strangers to challenging teams like City and Real Madrid—it’s something they’ve been doing for a while. But the real challenge for us is not just to keep competing at this level; it’s to prove we can continue to improve in every aspect of our game. That’s what the very best teams do—they don’t rest on their laurels. They push themselves forward.

“Lastly, and importantly, Sunday is a day when Liverpool FC will show our support for the LGBTQ+ community by backing Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign.”

“This is something we do with pride and passion because football is for everyone, and it must be for everyone.”