Arne Slot: Liverpool head coach remains defiant on playing type,…

Arne Slot: Liverpool head coach remains defiant on playing type,…

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has doubled down on his squad choice and playing type despite a poor run of kind for the Premier League champions.

Wednesday night time’s 3-0 residence loss to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup was Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven matches in all competitions, with the Reds also seven factors behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Slot was criticised for the team he put out against Palace, with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Hugo Ekitike among the host of first-team gamers left out of the matchday squad.

But Slot said on Friday – ahead of the residence game against in-form Aston Villa on Saturday – that those modifications had been needed as Liverpool have been unluckier with accidents than they had been last season.

“I’m happy with the quality of the team. But I’m also convinced by the strategy and policy we have,” said Slot in his press convention.

“What makes it ‘the issue’ – not all of them have had a correct pre-season. When three or 4 are injured, you go all the way down to having 16 gamers.

“I’m a agency believer in 21 or 22 gamers are sufficient. But it’s important to maintain them match as we did last season. We are struggling to maintain them match this season for, in my opinion, apparent causes.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video participant

Slot is ‘utterly completely happy’ with Liverpool’s squad depth after he confronted criticism for fielding a weaker team in the League Cup defeat to Crystal Palace

“Alex [Isak] came to us on September 1. A few others missed out in pre-season. It has been more difficult than last season to keep them more available. When players are not available, it [workload] comes down more to the same players.

“Maybe last season we had been more fortunate [with injuries], this season we’re more unfortunate. No excuses for outcomes, however we’ve got needed to play numerous away games with only two days in between. That would have been tough last season, and for any participant that has been match this season by means of pre-season, nevertheless it has not been the case this season.

Datawrapper

This content is supplied by Datawrapper, which can be utilizing cookies and other applied sciences.
To present you this content, we want your permission to make use of cookies.
You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to allow Datawrapper cookies or to permit those cookies just as soon as.
You can change your settings at any time through the Privacy Options.

Unfortunately we’ve got been unable to confirm if in case you have consented to Datawrapper cookies.
To view this content you should utilize the button below to permit Datawrapper cookies for this session only.

Enable Cookies
Allow Cookies Once

“Then you have to manage it. The upcoming week is three games in eight days. It has nothing to do with squad depth, but it has how we have run through the season in terms of injuries, availability and playing every two or three days.

“That has been one thing what every team has. It’s not an excuse for us. What was a bit different than last season is last season all of them had one 12 months Premier League experience at least – they usually all stayed match.

“Now they weren’t all fit from the start, then some players have to play more than you want them to do, which is a risk for them getting injured as well.

“But it’s what it’s. We have more than sufficient gamers on Saturday to get a result, to play the game on Tuesday and Sunday. But I’ve to care for a few of them. That’s why I made a decision to not play seven or eight gamers a few days in the past.”

Slot confirmed that Ryan Gravenberch could come back into the team to face Villa on Saturday after returning to training on Thursday, but Curtis Jones and Alexander Isak are “99.9 per cent” out.

‘It goes against my beliefs’ – Slot on playing type

Slot also admitted he is not going to change Liverpool’s playing type, amid this poor run of games.

He said after last weekend’s 3-2 defeat to Brentford that his facet are struggling to take care of lengthy balls and low blocks.

Brentford also managed 17 photographs on the Liverpool purpose – the most they’ve managed all season – however Slot says his facet will not be going to play more defensively.

Datawrapper

This content is supplied by Datawrapper, which can be utilizing cookies and other applied sciences.
To present you this content, we want your permission to make use of cookies.
You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to allow Datawrapper cookies or to permit those cookies just as soon as.
You can change your settings at any time through the Privacy Options.

Unfortunately we’ve got been unable to confirm if in case you have consented to Datawrapper cookies.
To view this content you should utilize the button below to permit Datawrapper cookies for this session only.

Enable Cookies
Allow Cookies Once

“It [going defensive to be less open] does go against my beliefs,” he said. “But I’ve won games in the past – Man City away for example [last season] – where it went against my beliefs but it was necessary to play it in the second half.

“I might be more than open to adapt in sure conditions. But I do not assume the story is we concede probability after probability after probability and we’re too open. It’s not like this.

“Maybe against Palace when in the first half we must always have be 2-0 down or 3-0 down, possibly Brentford too. But all the other games we deserved more than what we acquired.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video participant

Highlights of the Carabao Cup fourth-round match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace

“We barely concede chances – even against Palace [in midweek] with the team I put out. I think they only conceded three big chances – and all three went in because they were big.

“I do not see us conceding numerous possibilities, so I do not see a motive to vary our playing type utterly. But we have to do better at not conceding targets.”

Have Slot’s contract talks stalled?

Slot also addressed rumours over his Liverpool future in an eventful press conference.

Reports emerged in midweek that the Dutchman was in talks with the club over an extension – but the recent run of poor form has led to those negotiations being parked for now.

Slot refused to be drawn on those rumours – but did admit his immediate focus is getting the team’s results back on track.

“That was the last query I used to be anticipating. My focus is totally again on getting Liverpool again to successful methods. That’s my first reply.

“The second answer is: contract talks – if they are even there – we never speak about this here [in press conferences]. Let us first start to win again. That’s where my main focus is on.”

Pick your Liverpool team to play Aston Villa…

Who ought to Slot flip to to end Liverpool’s depressing run?

Use our interactive team selector tool below to select your team to face Aston Villa on Saturday…

Monterosa

This content is supplied by Monterosa, which can be utilizing cookies and other applied sciences.
To present you this content, we want your permission to make use of cookies.
You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to allow Monterosa cookies or to permit those cookies just as soon as.
You can change your settings at any time through the Privacy Options.

Unfortunately we’ve got been unable to confirm if in case you have consented to Monterosa cookies.
To view this content you should utilize the button below to permit Monterosa cookies for this session only.

Enable Cookies
Allow Cookies Once

Do you want sports activities? Stay informed with the latest in sports activities. At
TheGossipBlogger.com,
we cowl breaking news, match outcomes, athlete updates, and key developments from major leagues and competitions worldwide.

From soccer, basketball, and tennis to global tournaments and local games, our reporting highlights the performances, data, and rivalries shaping today’s sporting panorama.

Beyond scores and outcomes, we also share analysis, exclusive interviews, training insights, and tales from behind the scenes — supplying you with a whole view of the action.

Bookmark
Sports
and check back usually for correct, well-curated updates that maintain you related to the athletes and occasions making headlines.