Arne Slot Says Liverpool’s Best Is Still to Come Ahead of Wolves Clash

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot spoke to reporters on December 23, 2025. He was looking ahead to their Premier League match against Wolves, set for December 27, 2025. Slot talked about the team’s recent form. He thinks the best is still to come for Liverpool, but they really need to sort out their set-piece problems.

A Turnaround, But Not Enough

The Reds have been on a pretty good run lately. They’re six games unbeaten across all competitions. That’s a nice change. Before this, things were pretty rough. The club had nine losses in 12 games. That was their worst stretch in 71 years, which is just wild. Now, they’ve climbed to fifth in the Premier League. They’re level on 29 points with Chelsea, who are in fourth.

But Slot isn’t getting too carried away, you know? He admitted Liverpool’s spot is still below where they expected to be.

“We are in the position we deserve after the first half of the season,” Slot said. “I think we should be higher, let that be clear – I was expecting and hoping for us to be higher in the table – but even in the last six games the difference between us and the other team is constantly too small.”

He also thinks they’ve had a bit of luck lately. Like in games against Tottenham and Brighton. Slot wants the team to be so much better than the opponent that luck doesn’t even matter anymore. He pointed out that earlier losses, some of them felt unlucky. Referees and set pieces had a “incredible impact” early on, he said. But he’s not letting that be an excuse. They can’t drop points because of that.

The Big Set-Piece Problem

Here’s the real sticking point for Slot: set pieces. Both attacking and defending them. Liverpool’s record there is pretty bad. Only Bournemouth has conceded more set-piece goals in the league this season. Bournemouth has 12, Liverpool has 11. And going the other way, it’s not much better. Teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United all have 10 set-piece goals. Liverpool? Just three. That’s a big difference.

Slot is pretty vocal about this. He feels if you take out the set pieces, Liverpool’s league position would look totally different.

“If you look at our set-piece balance, there is not one team in the world that is minus eight in set pieces and is still joint-fourth in the league,” he noted. “If you find that team please tell me.”

He acknowledges people say set pieces are part of the game. And they are, of course. But he sees them as a “different element.” An “add-on” to the fundamental football itself. Still, these “add-ons” have an “immense impact” on games and the league table, he observed. According to The Guardian, Slot is pretty adamant about fixing this issue. From open play, Liverpool is actually the number one team in the league for creating chances. But Slot feels they get “criticised a lot” because of the results, and the set pieces just skew everything.

Looking Forward: “The Best is Yet to Come”

Despite the challenges, Slot is really quite optimistic. He believes Liverpool will improve a lot in the second half of the season. He thinks players are getting fitter now. Not just the new guys, but also those who missed pre-season. They’re also getting more used to playing with each other. And you know, that takes time for sure.

“I think the best is still to come for this team,” Slot declared.

This positive outlook is shared across the club, with fan channels often discussing the team’s potential, as seen in this video from a popular Liverpool fan channel. For the upcoming Wolves game, Liverpool will be without Dominik Szoboszlai, who is suspended. Alexander Isak is also a long-term absentee. The team will have to adapt. It’s not ideal, but they’ve managed before. More discussion on match previews can be found on channels like this one, which often covers team news and tactical insights.

Slot knows the performance level still needs “big improvement.” But he’s confident they can become the dominant team he wants. They just have to get those set-piece issues sorted out first. Fans are probably hoping Slot’s belief holds true, and that the team can start converting their open play chances into more points. You can check out more press conference highlights on official club channels like this YouTube link.