Liverpool have been enjoying a rare weekend off as they look ahead to another big few days of fixtures.

Having crashed out of the FA Cup away at Plymouth Argyle in January, the Reds have no game between Wednesday’s win over Newcastle and next week’s clash with PSG.

The Plymouth result was arguably the lowest point of Liverpool’s time under Arne Slot so far.

With the fixture list so hectic in the first month of the year, Slot chose to field a hugely weakened team against bottom-of-the-Championship Argyle.

Paul Merson says Liverpool already had 'one of the signings of the season' - now he's even better	Paul Merson names the Premier League club that will beat Chelsea to top four finish	Paul Merson names Premier League club that will beat Chelsea to top four finish

However, with the senior members of the Liverpool squad failing to turn up, and a few youngsters struggling to get going, the Reds were beaten.

As bad as that result was, though, many Liverpool supporters would still place September’s Premier League loss to Nottingham Forest above it in terms of poor moments.

But according to Paul Merson, Slot learned his lesson from the surprise defeat at Anfield.

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Rewind back to September 14th 2024, and Liverpool were flying high having won three in three to kick off their Premier League campaign.

Manchester United had been swept aside 3-0 at Old Trafford two weeks before and Slot was already looking like a terrific appointment.

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Forest had expected to be beaten comfortably at Anfield, but the first international break of the season disrupted Liverpool’s rhythm and they lost 1-0.

“I thought they could struggle here a bit.”

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“But it was straight after international break, I think with Slot being in Holland I don’t think it’s the same as in the Premier League, there’s a massive gulf.”

“When you come back the lesser teams have got a good chance of beating you, it’s a real leveller and I think that taught him a lesson.

“I think he learnt there that sometimes when it isn’t going great, just be patient and just take a draw here and there.

But I think they’ve been absolutely outstanding.”

Merson won two First Division titles during his time with Arsenal during the 1980’s and 1990’s.

But despite his allegiance to the Gunners, the former England midfielder has admitted that this year’s race is done.

According to Merson, it’s just a matter of by how many points Liverpool win it by.

“It’s just a matter of how many points from now on,” he says.

Thankfully, Slot learned what he needed to from it and catapulted the Reds towards a sensational campaign.
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