Arne Slot vows Liverpool will 'fight on' after harrowing UEFA Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven, Ibrahima Konate issues strong statement
By Rhys Jones
Updated 27/11/2025 at 21:31 GMT
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Arne Slot has vowed to "fight on" at Liverpool after a 4-1 UEFA Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven worsened their already worrying form. It was their ninth loss in 12 games, but Slot explained that conversations with the club's hierarchy are the same as when he arrived at Anfield. The Reds are 12th and 13th in the Premier League and Champions League respectively and face West Ham on Sunday.
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Arne Slot said his Liverpool side will "fight on" after Wednesday's 4-1 UEFA Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield condemned them to a ninth loss in 12 games.
Liverpool opened the 2025/26 season with seven consecutive wins, continuing their strong momentum following last season's Premier League title triumph, backed up by a summer of big spending.
But Slot's side now sit 12th in the league, 13th in the Champions League, and are already out of the Carabao Cup, amid what is officially their worst run of form since the 1953/54 season.
Slot revealed that conversations with the club's hierarchy have not changed, and said his team will "fight on" in the face of adversity.
"We've had the same conversation since I got here," Slot said on Thursday ahead of Sunday's clash with West Ham.
"We fight on, and we try to improve, that's what we'll try. But the conversations have been the same as they've been for the past one and a half years."
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A little over two months ago, Liverpool sat top of the Premier League table, five points ahead of Arsenal. Mikel Arteta's team, who on Wednesday night fended off Bayern Munich 3-1 in north London, are now 11 points ahead of The Reds domestically.
Following a seamless start to his Liverpool career, winning the Premier League title in his debut campaign in charge, Slot finds himself in an unprecedented position - and accepted standards have dropped in recent months.
"I do agree that our standards have not been of the standards we are used to. We think we can play better," he said.
"Last season when we did really well, there was focus on individuals and I said we should focus on the team. If the opposite is happening, we should also look at the team and not individuals."
Last season, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side suffered a similar slump when a loss to Aston Villa in December saw them also suffer nine losses in 12 games.
Guardiola impressively overturned the poor run and guided his side to a third-place finish. As Slot eyes a similar turnaround, he explained the difficult effect such results can have on a team.
"There is a lot of pressure if you work or play at a top club," Slot said. "And even more so if you start losing more games than this club, these players and this manager are used to. There's always pressure, but there was a lot of pressure last season as well for us to win the league. And now it's a different kind of pressure because we've lost so many games.
"What it does to me, I can just do the same but I don't have to play, so maybe my job is a little bit easier. I think it's hard for every player if you are on a bad run of results, if you go down immediately after three minutes, and then you play a good first half, and then 10 minutes after half-time you concede. So we got knock after knock, which is hard, but that's why I keep saying we have to keep fighting.
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"That's what we did so well last season and what this club is about. That is the minimum we expect over 90 minutes but it's not always easy if you get knock after knock."
Liverpool's run has led to increased scrutiny being placed on a number of key players, such as Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate - who were key to last season's success.
Slot suggested he could make changes to his line-up for Sunday's match against West Ham, but has not yet reached a decision.
"They train with us every single day and they can prove themselves in those moments," he said. "It is always that balance of if you don't change, people think you should change more. There was a period of this season where we lost and I made a couple changes and people complained.
"I consider it, but I cannot tell you the end product of that consideration for Sunday... yet."
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Slot also offered a triple injury update on Florian Wirtz, Alisson, and Hugo Ekitke, and the trio's return could be a big boost for the weekend's game.
"Alisson trained again today with the team, we hope and expect he is available at the weekend," Slot said.
"Wirtz will have his final day of rehab tomorrow, if all goes well he can train with he team on Saturday.
"Ekitike, today was a recovery day, but they don't expect it to be a big issue."
West Ham, after a poor start to the season and the sacking of Graham Potter, are beginning to steady their ship under Nuno Espirito Santo.
The former Nottingham Forest manager has guided them to two wins and a draw in their last three games, one of which being an inspired 3-1 win over Newcastle United.
"He's having an impact on results," Slot said about the West Ham boss.
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"He's done well everywhere he's worked in England. Did well at Forest and is now doing well at West Ham. He's proving to be a difficult manager to play against, not only for me but for everyone, because he always has a very good game plan.
"They're a tough team to beat at the moment, West Ham, which was maybe different at the beginning of the season, but we face them now, and that's why we definitely need to be ready for a challenge.
"They know that after our recent run of results, it's probably different for them to play against us now than it was three or four months ago."
Konate issues strong statement to supporters
Konate took to social media to issue a stirring message to Liverpool supporters, sharing the sentiment with Slot that his side will fight through their current struggles.
"We have to take this moment on the chest," he wrote in a statement. "Criticism is part of football, and we'll fight back every time and come through this storm.
"In these moments, the fans matter most. The ones who stand with us in the good times and the bad-the ones who sing for us even in the difficult moments!
"Your voice and your support mean everything to us. We know we need to improve and we'll keep fighting for you. Always."
Konate will be out of contract in the summer, and several European giants have reportedly shown interest in the former RB Leipzig defender, notably Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
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