Arne Slot calls on full focus for Liverpool ahead of Manchester City test

The Reds bounced back to winning ways in the league with a win against Newcastle United last Saturday after a run of four matches without a victory.

Arne Slot's side now host second placed Man City, who are winless in their last two Premier League matches and are desperate to close the gap on log leaders Arsenal.

"Put simply, no-one should be in any doubt about the levels you have to reach to win a game like this," wrote Slot in his matchday programme.

"Especially when Pep Guardiola is in charge of the opposition. There are no shortcuts and no half measures at this level.

"You have to be all in from first minute to last and you also have to be prepared to suffer because under Pep, City have only ever been a team which will test you to the full."

Liverpool have lost only one of the last five league encounters against Man City, with the loss being a 3-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season.

"Scoring ten goals and only conceding one [in the last two matches] was a big improvement," added the Dutch coach.  

"And the key now is to maintain this progress because we are in a situation in which we have no option but to keep pushing ourselves, especially if we want to finish in as high a position as we can and make the most of the remainder of this season."

A victory for the Reds will put them a point behind fifth placed Chelsea while a win for City would close the gap to top of the table Arsenal back to six points.