Arne Slot has confirmed that Liverpool will treat their hosting of Southampton as one of three finals this week. How gut-wrenching to hear as a Saints fan.
Southampton has left much to be desired this season. In truth, they never really hit the ground running upon their return to the Premier League and now fans are understandably disillusioned. It is now likely the Saints will be relegated back to the Championship, with the only hope now that they at least go down with a fight.
This weekend, it's sky-high in the Premier League against rock-bottom. That's right, Liverpool, only losing one game all season, hosts Southampton, only winning twice all season. Don't all place your bets about who will win at once.
As if the prospect of facing the best team in the country in their own backyard wasn't scary enough, Arne Slot has given Southampton fans even more reason to be scared.
Arne Slot: Liverpool vs Southampton is a final
Heading into the Southampton game, Arne Slot has encouraged his players and fans of Liverpool to treat the match on Saturday as a final. He has stated that in every competition, Liverpool must treat it like a final. Within the space of a week, Liverpool face Southampton in the Premier League, PSG in the Champions League and Newcastle in the EFL Cup final.
In his own words, Slot said: "I have to convince my players that we play three finals, like I said now a few times, and I'm hoping – and that's why I every time come up with the word 'final' – that I influence our fans a bit as well."
Slot continued: "That they understand how important they are going to be tomorrow. I'm hoping they will not come into the stadium five minutes before the kick-off, I'm hoping the whole stadium is already completely filled half an hour before kick-off and that these players get the reward for what they did in Paris for working so hard."
Oh, man. Give us a break, Slot.
If anything, Southampton fans would have been hoping that Liverpool's progression in other competitions meant that they'd take their feet off the gas a little against us. However, champions-elect don't do that.
Granted, Liverpool might play a slightly weakened team against Southampton. This wouldn't come as a surprise, given their involvement in the Champions League and then the EFL Cup final. However, this still doesn't fill us with confidence, considering the Reds' second team could beat the Saints' first team.