Defending champion says he’s in better shape than ever ahead of Sunday’s 1500m heats
Latest editorial
Arne Slot's Liverpool face another first big test after impressive start
Liverpool manager Arne Slot waves to the fans after the UEFA Champions League, league stage match at Anfield, Liverpool, November 27, 2024
Vilified by the public after defeating Henry Cooper, Joe Bugner’s remarkable career and tragic decline reflected the era’s attitudes as much as the man himself, says JOHN WIGHT
ARNE SLOT’S Liverpool may have passed their first great test, then the next one, and then the next one, but the Dutch manager is always the first to say that being here now, top of the Premier League and the Champions League in December, isn’t what counts. It’s where you are at the end of the season that does.
This weekend, Liverpool face their latest “first big test” of the Slot era when they face perennial title winners and regular competitive rivals Manchester City at Anfield.
While Slot is right to be pragmatic, his start at Liverpool has been better than anyone could have hoped, and it sometimes feels like it is being taken for granted somewhat.
More from this author
Governing bodies’ refusal to offer discounted tickets to local fans for 2026 is drawing criticism from politicians and grassroots movements alike, writes JAMES NALTON
The captain’s emotional performance in Argentina’s win over Venezuela had all the markings of a farewell. But if history is any guide, the legend may not be done just yet, writes JAMES NALTON
As football grapples with overloaded calendars and commercial pressure, the Mariners’ triumph reminds us why the game’s soul lives far from the spotlight, writes JAMES NALTON
