Slot demands better from Liverpool ahead of Manchester United’s visit

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said «the results don’t lie» after a three-match losing streak as he called for defensive improvements ahead of Manchester United’s visit to Anfield on Sunday.

The Premier League champions won their first seven games of the season in all competitions, but poor performances were masked by a string of late goals.

Before the international break, Liverpool suffered defeats against Crystal Palace, Galatasaray in the Champions League and Chelsea, leaving them one point behind title rivals Arsenal.

After winning the title last season, Liverpool spent almost £450 million ($604 million) on new signings, paying club records for Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, neither of whom has yet scored a Premier League goal.

At the other end of the pitch, Slot’s men have conceded two or more goals in four of their seven Premier League games.

«We played ten, won seven and lost three. The three defeats were narrow,» Slot said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“But as I always say: we should not be dependent on such margins.

«The results don’t lie. If you lose three in a row, you have to do better. We are aware of that and we have to respond.»

Mohamed Salah’s sensational form propelled Liverpool to the title last season, but the 33-year-old Egyptian has so far struggled to adapt to the changes made to the squad during the transfer window.

Slot pointed to a lack of game-changing moments in his star-studded forward line and problems at set-pieces.

“We didn’t create as many chances as last season and there is a reason for that: the opponent’s playing style, and we have to find answers to that,” he said.

«The first answer is not to concede as many goals as we do. If a team scores one or two goals, we need three goals.»

«In the first half of the season we mainly got these goals from a special moment from one of our front three. In the second half of the season we needed set pieces against a low block.

“This season we haven’t had those special moments and we haven’t scored from set pieces.

“It’s clear that conceding four goals from set pieces is far too much for a team that wants to compete.”

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker remains out with a hamstring injury, but there was better injury news for Liverpool as Ryan Gravenberch is fit to face United despite coming off injured for the Netherlands during the international break.

Published on October 17, 2025