Slot: We must stay humble, work hard, and give it all out against Sunderland

The Reds return to Anfield tonight to take on Regis Le Bris’ side having ended a three-match losing run by beating West Ham United 2-0 away on Sunday.

But nobody inside the Liverpool camp is under the illusion that the weekend win was anything more than just a ‘step in the right direction’, according to Slot.

In his notes for the official matchday programme, the head coach writes: “No-one who is at this game will need me to tell them that our last two performances in front of our fans have fallen short of the desired standard.

“Without wishing to dwell too much on those matches, this is clearly something that we don’t just want to change, we need to change.

“The word ‘standard’ is key in this. It is about the level that we set ourselves last season and the expectations that the club has set for itself for many, many years previously.

“This does not always guarantee good results but it definitely does improve our chances of getting them. This is the way it has always been and it is also definitely the way it is right now.

“This is why Sunday’s victory at West Ham was a step in the right direction after such a difficult period. It was not the greatest game that a Liverpool team has ever played and we know that further improvements are still needed – but it was the performance that was required in the circumstances.

“We kept a clean sheet, we did not give away any real chances – except for in the very last minute – and the players worked incredibly hard from kick-off to the final whistle. On top of this, we scored two very well-taken goals which gave us the reward that we deserved on the day.

“These are the headlines of what we did as a team but on top of this we had the kind of support which makes such a difference at times like this.

“To all those who made the journey to London to give us this kind of backing, I can only say thank you.

“We have all been tested in recent weeks and yet the supporters have been able to put their own disappointment behind them to push us on. I knew before I came to Liverpool that our fans had a reputation for this but experiencing it first-hand is genuinely special, although I would much prefer that your loyalty had not been tested the way it has of late.

“In the first half of the game I heard ‘champions’ being sung from the away end on more than one occasion and that chant captured the kind of defiance that we will continue to need in the days and weeks to come.

“Yes, I know that this song is sung out of pride also because of what we achieved together last season but in the current period it takes on an additional meaning for me – one that helps us to remind ourselves of our own identity and what we stand for.

“It is no coincidence for me that this kind of defiance in the stands was matched on the pitch.

“At a moment of difficulty we all stayed together and fought for Liverpool. This is a spirit that can take us a long way, even after a spell that I would be the first to admit has not been good enough.

“The challenge now will be to build on this win. We do not get to believe that a corner has been turned or that a recovery is under way. We have to remain humble, work hard and continue to fight. If we do this then maybe we can continue taking the small steps forward that are very much required.

“I would like to welcome Regis Le Bris, his players and staff as well as the supporters and directors of Sunderland to Anfield for tonight’s game. What they have done in the Premier League already this season reflects incredibly well on all at the club having earned promotion back in May.

“Sunderland’s comeback victory over Bournemouth on Saturday underlined so many of the qualities that continue to serve them well in the top flight. We should expect them to arrive with their confidence high and with a determination to further enhance their reputation.

“We have to be ready and we have to show our own desire to improve the situation that we are in. If we can do these things, we will see where it takes us.”