Arne Slot admits Liverpool's season 'not good enough' after Brighton defeat

Danny Welbeck's brace at the Amex Stadium inflicted a costly blow to Liverpool's hopes of securing Champions League qualification, with Slot's side now struggling to recover from a run of poor results that has seen them take just one point from their last three league matches.

Having also conceded late goals in a defeat to Wolves and a draw with Tottenham, the Dutchman acknowledged that the deeper issue lies in those dropped points rather than this latest setback alone.

"Of course now, looking at the league table, this loss hurts a lot and it should hurt us a lot," Slot said. "But the main problem is that we are in this position because we dropped points at Wolves in the last minute from a deflected shot. The goal last week in the 90th minute is an even bigger problem than losing away at Brighton."

Despite insisting it is "not his job to come up with excuses", Slot pointed to a familiar pattern that has disrupted Liverpool throughout the season. Injuries to key figures once again left the team depleted, with Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker absent, while Hugo Ekitike was forced off just minutes into the contest. The situation meant Liverpool were quickly forced into reshuffling, a theme that has recurred across the campaign.

"We had Mo Salah injured, we had Alisson injured, and after two minutes Hugo Ekitike out. That has happened so many times to us this season," he said. "Brighton away is a difficult game for any team, especially if you miss out on very influential players."

Slot also suggested the congested fixture schedule played a role, highlighting the limited recovery time following their midweek Champions League outing. He felt Brighton capitalised on that fatigue by raising the intensity early, with a collision ultimately leading to Ekitike's withdrawal. As the game wore on, Liverpool struggled to keep pace.

"We did this quite well in the first half but as the game went on, Brighton became stronger and stronger," Slot admitted. "Throughout the second half, they were closer to 3-1 than we were to making it 2-2."

While Liverpool remain alive in the FA Cup and Champions League, their domestic form has left them in a precarious position in the race for a top-five finish, which is likely required to secure qualification for Europe's elite competition next season. Slot acknowledged that, regardless of mitigating factors, the pressure at the club remains constant.

"There is always pressure at Liverpool," he said. "On me, on the players. That is completely normal. We have done well in the cups, but in the league we need to make sure that we qualify for the Champions League."