Liverpool manager Arne Slot has said the quality of teams right through the division is the ‘biggest difference’ between the Premier League and other top leagues.
Liverpool return to Premier League action at home to Bournemouth on Saturday, having faced a tough clash with AC Milan in the Champions League in midweek.
During a time when the work load on professional players is being criticised, Slot was asked whether he had felt the added intensity of English football, following his arrival from Feyenoord in the summer.
Slot said he is used to the midweek European schedule, but suggested the festive period and greater depth in quality in the Premier League makes the challenge in England more difficult.
“I don’t know if you know but in Holland we also have the Eredivise so we also play games at the weekend and in the Champions League or Europa League, so we also play midweek,” Slot said at his pre-match press conference.
“There is only one difference and that is the upcoming week when we play the League Cup. Until now, I haven’t seen anything different from what I was used to at my former clubs.
“That’s not an issue for me, but the main difference is the Premier League and every other league in Europe is playing during Christmas and the New Year. Those moments, that’s the biggest difference between this league and every other league. But, that’s probably what you mean, the strength of the league, the quality of the league. The likes of Bournemouth, that is much higher than if you play against a team that doesn’t play for the top-six positions. This is where it makes a difference.”
Slot was asked for his view on this week’s opponents and said Bournemouth ‘caught his eye’ during their last trip to Merseyside, having come from two goals down to beat Everton.
“They’ve started off quite while, a win away against the neighbours (Everton). That caught my eye the most because they were 2-0 down so late in the game but I think Andoni Iraola has done a tremendous job at their place – he develops players and has a nice playing style, it’s nice football to watch.
“All credits for him, but hopefully, we can manage to do better against Bournemouth tomorrow than we did against Nottingham Forest last week.”
