Arne Slot Admits Away Form Has Cost Liverpool in Champions League Race Ahead of Aston Villa Trip

• Liverpool could secure Champions League qualification with victory over Aston Villa on Friday.
• Arne Slot says inconsistent away form has been a key factor in their underwhelming season.
• Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz remain doubts, with several key players still sidelined.

Liverpool head into their final away match of the season knowing a win at Aston Villa would secure Champions League qualification, but Arne Slot has admitted that their struggles on the road have defined a disappointing campaign.

The Reds have not won at Villa Park since December 2024 and arrive with injury concerns hanging over several key players, including Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz. Despite that, there was some encouragement on Thursday, with Slot confirming Salah could feature from the bench and goalkeeper Alisson Becker closing in on a return.

Wirtz has recently been dealing with a stomach infection, though his presence in gym work at the AXA Training Centre suggests a possible late return to contention.

Long-term absentees remain unchanged, with Bajcetic, Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo and Jayden Danns still unavailable.

Slot stressed that injuries were not an excuse for the scale of Liverpool’s inconsistency this season, instead pointing to away form as the decisive issue.

“That’s one of the reasons why we’re in the position we are in,” Slot said. “We wanted to be higher or doing better this season, but we’ve dropped far too many points in away games.”

He added that the pattern had been particularly damaging following European fixtures, when Liverpool have repeatedly failed to carry momentum into domestic matches.

“Dropping points in away games has mainly happened after playing in Europe,” he said. “In games where usually Liverpool is able to win.”

Slot acknowledged that this late-season fixture against Villa carries the same level of difficulty regardless of scheduling or fatigue.

“Villa away doesn’t matter if you play it after a game in Europe or after a week of rest,” he said. “This will always be a difficult game.”

He also praised Unai Emery’s side, highlighting their squad depth and consistency across competitions, with Villa still competing strongly in both the Premier League and Europe.

“If you don’t have that, you’re not able to go all the way in the Europa League and do so well in the Premier League,” Slot said, pointing to Villa’s rotation options and quality throughout the squad.

“They have a big squad with many very good players at the same level,” he added.

Liverpool’s own depth has been tested throughout the season, with injuries and fitness issues repeatedly disrupting continuity. Slot admitted that managing intensity across competitions is something the club must improve moving forward.

For now, the focus is simple: end a difficult away campaign with a result that secures a return to Europe’s top competition.

Whether Salah, Wirtz, or Alisson are involved may shape how Liverpool approach the challenge, but Slot’s message remains the same. The problems this season have been structural, not situational, and Villa Park is simply the latest test of that reality.

WRITTEN BY

Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.

More articles by Hailey →