Slot stops the rot – but City test proves there's no time for rest

HAVING appeared to have arrested the worst run of his Liverpool career with back-to-back Anfield victories over Aston Villa and Real Madrid, Arne Slot now returns to the drawing board to plot a way past Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday.

- By PAUL GORST

A pulsating victory and a statement performance against the 15-time champions of Europe should have Slot and his charges rolling down the M62 in buoyant mood as they go about trying to secure a third successive victory against Pep Guardiola’s men.

The major issue for the head coach to consider, however, is how much these last few days have taken out of a team who only made one change between games in Florian Wirtz for Cody Gakpo. Conor Bradley, for example, has been excellent in his last outings but the Northern Ireland international is yet to showcase his ability to play three games in a week of such velocity and importance. With Jeremie Frimpong sidelined with a hamstring issue, Bradley may be tasked with going again but how much did keeping Vinicius Junior quiet take out of the 21-year-old?