Liverpool boss Arne Slot reveals how he reacted to Arsenal’s draw with Crystal Palace

Arne Slot says he ‘wasn’t that surprised’ Crystal Palace held Arsenal to a 2-2 draw considering the unpredictable nature of the Premier League and just how well Oliver Glasner’s side played.

Arsenal entered Wednesday’s clash knowing defeat would hand the title to Liverpool but Mikel Arteta’s men got off to a dream start, with Jakub Kiwior heading the hosts in front in only the third minute.

Leandro Trossard restored the Gunners’ advantage after Eberechi Eze struck home an equaliser, only for Jean-Philippe Mateta to beat David Raya with an audacious 30-yard lob to make it all square again and silence the Emirates.

Arteta later admitted his players had ‘dropped their standards’ as they put Liverpool on the cusp of a record-equaling 20th league title in Slot’s debut season in English football.

Anything but a loss at home to Tottenham on Sunday would give the Merseyside giants an unassailable lead at the top of the table and put the club’s top-flight trophy haul level with that of bitter rivals Manchester United.

‘It was different as you’re normally alone or with family. We watched it all together and it was a game that had a surprise,’ the Liverpool head coach revealed this morning.

‘Before the game, I would have been surprised that it ended in a draw.

‘During the game, I wasn’t that surprised but Palace showed what this league is all about.

‘Very good performance as a team and also a few very good individual performances.

‘In the end, maybe not a surprising result but before the game I didn’t expect it to end in a draw.’

Slot says he and his players have a ‘big responsibility’ on their shoulders given Liverpool fans were not allowed inside Anfield when the club last won the title in 2020.

‘First of all, that’s a big responsibility because we are aware of the fact the last time this club won the league it was Covid times so everybody is looking forward to Sunday,’ he added.

‘But we know there is still a job to be done and that is at least one point.

‘That’s what we know and hopefully our friends know when they come to this stadium, that they support us in the best possible way they can which they have done all season.

‘They are aware of the fact we still need a point and that’s something we are definitely aware of here inside this building.

‘It’s a nice game to look forward to but it’s also a responsibility that we have for Sunday.’

Slot is anticipating a tough test against an out-of-sorts Spurs team looking to build momentum ahead of their Europa League semi-final clash with Bodo/Glimt.

‘We’re playing against a Tottenham side that is playing for something special as well, not in the league but definitely in the Europa League,’ he continued.

‘They want to go towards the Bodo/Glimt game in the best possible prepared way so we’re only focussed on the next opponent and that is Tottenham now.

‘We will try to prepare the team the same way that we have done the whole season and hopefully the team, the players, can bring the same energy and the same mentality towards the game that they have brought throughout the whole season. We’re expecting the same from the fans.

Slot could become the 12th manager to get his hands on the Premier League trophy this weekend, but the Dutchman is not allowing himself to get swept up in the emotions of the occasion just yet.

‘I get these questions so then it comes to your mind, of course, but that’s the last thing you think about as a manager at this particular moment of time,’ he explained.

‘The only thing I think about is hopefully they are all available, the players, and then preparing them because I know, during the week, and I noticed last week, how hard it was to win a game of football against a team that was relegated, not officially, but close to that because of the goal difference and still it was hard to get a win over the line.

‘So I don’t end up getting carried away at all. I know we have faced Tottenham already three times so I know how hard it is to beat them and that’s where our main focus is.’

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