Arne Slot admits Liverpool’s upcoming rest period is bad news for a number of his squad players.
The leaders took another step towards the title as Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-0 to move 13 points clear of Arsenal in the Premier League table.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister scored the goals as Slot’s side extended their lead, with the Gunners only able to draw 0-0 away at Nottingham Forest.
After a hectic season, the Reds will soon be afforded a rest. Having been knocked out of the FA Cup at Plymouth last month, Liverpool will not play this weekend – returning to action for their Champions League quarter-final first leg trip to Paris Saint-Germain in early March.
While Slot was naturally delighted about the prospect of a rest period, he admitted that not having an FA Cup tie to navigate was a setback for some of his squad players, namely the likes of Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa and Jarell Quansah.
“Yes it is true that rest is good but also I would love to play because the likes of Elliott, Quansah, Chiesa would have been good for them to have a game, but for Virgil [Van Dijk] and Mo [Salah] and these players it is very good,” the Dutchman told BBC Sport.
Asked about whether or not the title felt close for Liverpool, Slot said: “I don't know because I don't think that way. I think about Paris Saint-Germain already. What you don't know but what I do know because I watched them against City, because we played City, and I'm impressed by the quality they have. I think they are in a similar run as we are – hardly lost any single game for a long time.
“Though I'm not always correct in data because two days ago my son told me that I made a big, big, big mistake by saying Cristiano Ronaldo never played in the Premier League! So, I'm not sure if Paris Saint-Germain has the same run as ours but they are doing really well. So, my main focus is on Paris Saint-Germain. I forget the league table now, I forget the Premier League now until the moment we've played Paris Saint-Germain and then I will start to think about the Premier League again.”
Slot was serving the first of his two-game touchline ban, having been sent-off at Everton earlier this month.
“Watching it in real time is less stressful, less emotional, let's put it that way, because you don't feel the emotions or energy of the players, you have a better overview,” he said of his seat up in the Anfield stands.
“The downside is that you can see replays as well and, as you know from the reason why I was suspended, I can get emotional about certain decisions! That is sometimes then a disadvantage, that you can see the replays, but OK. [It was a] great team performance.
