Arne Slot says Liverpool need ‘elite mentality’ to retain Premier League title

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot believes he will only know if his Premier League champions have the serial winner mentality when they return after their summer holidays.

Since securing only their second title in 35 years at the end of last month the Reds have taken one point – a draw against Arsenal after being 2-0 up – from three subsequent matches, as the Dutchman gave fringe players pitch time.

They had lost just two league matches all season up to that point and, while he is expected to name a strong team for visit of FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in the final match of the season at Anfield ahead of the trophy presentation, Slot accepts the intensity understandably dropped as soon as the race was over.

“We have a lot to compete for next season again but what I don’t know yet – and that’s going to be the interesting one – is if we have this elite mentality, this serial winner mentality, of showing up season after season after season,” he said.

“Many teams have won the Premier League once but not many have won multiple seasons in a row – and that’s for a reason.

“First of all, because it’s so difficult. Second of all, that not every player has this elite mentality.

“When I talk about Mo (Mohamed Salah), it’s not a coincidence that he’s for seven years already on a certain level and he was the one that was the most fittest when we arrived back after the (summer) break.

“That is a mentality you need to have to have a chance of becoming a serial winner.

“This is something we have to prove and the players have to prove – and me as well – during the off-season.

“The first day for me to judge if we have a chance to become serial winners is July 8 when I see them back (for pre-season).”

Former manager Jurgen Klopp, in the city