Arne Slot has been brutally honest about Liverpool's Achilles' heel this season: their away form simply hasn't been good enough. The Reds boss admitted the team has "dropped too many points" on the road, with just one more away fixture remaining in the 2025/26 campaign.
That final test comes on Friday night against Aston Villa at Villa Park—a clash that carries massive Champions League implications. Both sides sit level on 59 points, meaning a win for either team would secure a top-four spot and European football's biggest prize next season.
Liverpool fans can take some comfort from recent history. The Reds are unbeaten in their last four visits to Villa Park (two wins, two draws) since that shocking 7-2 defeat back in October 2020. They also won the reverse fixture at Anfield earlier this season, so momentum and recent form are on their side as they prepare to face Unai Emery's determined squad.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Slot didn't sugarcoat the issue. He pointed specifically to matches played shortly after Champions League fixtures as a recurring problem area. "We've dropped too many points in away games," he admitted. "It happens mainly after European matches—games where Liverpool are usually expected to win."
The Dutch manager acknowledged the unique challenge Villa Park presents, but noted the bigger concern is dropping points in away matches where Liverpool traditionally perform well. "That is one of the reasons why we have not qualified yet for the Champions League," he said.
Looking ahead, Slot emphasized the need for greater fitness and readiness to compete every three days next season. "The first challenge is to be fitter and more ready to play every three days," he explained. "We've had more than a few times where we've had a good spell after 70-80 minutes, but that goes hand-in-hand with dropped points in the late phases of games."
Unless Liverpool secure victory on Friday, they'll finish the Premier League season with more defeats than wins on the road—a stat that simply doesn't sit right for a club of this stature. For the Reds and their traveling supporters, it's time to turn things around when it matters most.