Liverpool manager Arne Slot hailed his team’s resilience after the “fatigued” Premier League leaders battled to a tense 2-1 victory over Wolves on Sunday.
Slot’s side moved seven points clear of second-placed Arsenal, thanks to an early Luis Díaz strike and a Mohamed Salah penalty before halftime. However, Wolves fought back, with Matheus Cunha pulling one back, forcing Liverpool to dig deep in the closing stages.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker made crucial saves to preserve the lead, and Slot acknowledged his team’s effort.
“This one is big. We needed to fight, and we needed Alisson,” Slot said. “Wolves took a lot of risks. In a season where you want to achieve something, you need wins like this. We had to show a different mentality, and we got it over the line.”
Liverpool showed signs of exhaustion after Wednesday’s dramatic 2-2 draw against Everton, which saw the Toffees equalise in stoppage time, and last weekend’s FA Cup exit to second-tier Plymouth.
“Fatigue comes from running a lot and mental stress,” Slot admitted. “We were tested today. We thought we had a third goal and a penalty, but both decisions were correct. Maybe that played a part in our tiredness.”
Despite the struggle, Liverpool’s fourth win in their last five league games kept Arsenal at bay in the title race. Now just 13 matches away from a record-equalling 20th English title, the Reds face crucial clashes with Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Newcastle.
Slot acknowledged the pressure from Arsenal, who have finished second in the last two seasons and remain in contention.
“If you look at recent seasons, it has mostly been a battle between two teams. Right now, it looks like us and Arsenal,” Slot said. “You can never relax in this league. If you want to compete for something special, you have to keep winning.”
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