Arne Slot has said he will not accept mediocrity at Liverpool and that any player who wears the famous red jersey must meet the highest standards.

Liverpool moved to the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Wolves on Saturday, but their new head coach remains critical of aspects of their performance. Slot will become the first Liverpool manager or head coach to win eight of his first nine games should his team beat Bologna in the Champions League at Anfield on Wednesday.

Ahead of the draw, the 46-year-old outlined the demands that underpinned his impressive start as he analyzed the closing stages at Molineux.

Slot said: “We didn’t concede anything in the last 15 minutes – I think they only had two shots in the second half – but in promising situations we lost the ball before there was a chance and we got the ball in Lost a few times.” Really easy before it even came to a promising situation. We as a team cannot accept mediocrity when you have so much quality.

“You have to set yourself the highest standards that this jersey brings with it, every second of the day, every second of the game. I and we as a team need to be very clear about those standards and that 15 minutes where we lost the ball so many times in promising positions, or moments that could lead to promising positions, may not be acceptable.”

Despite criticizing Liverpool’s carelessness in possession, Slot said he did not abuse his players at Wolves and was encouraged by their reaction. He said: “I don’t lose my temper that much. I don’t think it’s a good idea to do that every day so that the players think, “There he is again, screaming at us.” But the positive thing about this group is that I don’t accept mediocrity, and they do not that either. I saw after the game that one or two players were maybe more frustrated about that, but also about the way they started the game.”

Slot will be without the injured Federico Chiesa for his first European night at Anfield and Liverpool’s 250th Champions League/European Cup game. He wants Liverpool, players and fans alike, to show how much they missed competition when they slipped into the Europa League last season.

“I had the privilege of working on Champions League nights at Feyenoord last season,” said Slot. “People tell me it will be even more special here. What I expect from my players is that I want to see and feel this when they go out tomorrow after missing the Champions League for a year. You have to be ready. I want the same from the fans. I hope they feel the desire to show Europe again: “This is why you missed us.” This combination should make for a very special evening for everyone involved.”