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The Reds are unbeaten in eight matches but remain 12 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has admitted he is not currently eyeing the title race after a first half of the season in which he said the team struggled “all the way through”.
The Reds were held to a goalless draw – their first in 84 matches under Slot – at home to Leeds United on New Year’s Day and 12 points behind Premier League Arsenal leaders.
However, Slot’s men are now eight matches unbeaten after recovering from the club’s worst run of results in 71 years.
But despite his side’s upturn in form, the Dutch head coach said he does not see Liverpool defending their domestic crown as a realistic possibility at the moment due to a difficult start to the campaign.
“I think there are two teams,” Slot said of the Gunners and Manchester City when asked to assess the title race ahead of the Reds’ clash with Fulham on Sunday.
“[Aston] Villa are really close but Arsenal created a small gap by beating Villa and these two teams are quite far from us and we shouldn’t be looking at them at the moment.
“We struggled throughout. We started very well in terms of results, the games were very close, then we had a phase of the season where the games were still very close but we were constantly unlucky.
“Now we’ve gone eight games unbeaten, but if you say that you get the feeling: ‘They’re flying over the league.’ But that’s not what we do. Every game we play is hard work. We are mainly the team that is probably better but not enough.
“Hopefully we can find a time where we can get through the season, but for the first 19 games it’s been a constant battle, close together, sometimes a little lucky, sometimes a little unlucky.”
Injury updates and coaching successor
Slot hopes Joe Gomez will be fit for the game at Craven Cottage after revealing the defender trained on Friday, however, Wataru Endo remains sidelined while Florian Wirtz could be doubtful after injuring his hamstring against Leeds.
Slot also thanked former manager Aaron Briggs, who left the club earlier this week but remained tight-lipped about a possible replacement.
“First of all, I would like to thank him [Briggs] “For a year and a half we worked together because he played a big role in our championship victory last year and he was a big help to me,” Slot said.
“He will definitely find a new challenge because he has done a good job for us, he is a very good human being and a good English coach with great promise and deserves to be given several chances again.
“I think it would be a surprise to you if I never talked about the players we are bringing in that I would start talking to you about names in terms of coaches we could bring in.
“Of course we are looking at the situation and what is best for us now, but until I have any news on this, I cannot share anything about it.”
