🔗 Share this article

The Dutch manager has stated that the team leadership agree with his assessment regarding the poor performance streak and he refuses to compromise their attacking style in pursuit of a turnaround. The head coach admitted that six defeats in seven matches was unacceptable ahead of Saturday's match against Aston Villa.

Growing Expectations Amid Challenging Phase

Liverpool's coach recognized the expectations were high before his makeshift team were eliminated from the Carabao Cup against Crystal Palace. However, he emphasized that this urgency to stop the losing streak is not coming from the Anfield hierarchy or management structure following a substantial investment of almost £450m.

"Our views align," remarked Slot, whose side will meet the Spanish giants in the continental tournament and travel to Pep Guardiola's side in the Premier League.

Squad Quality Continues Unchallenged

Slot believes his team "boast a remarkable roster if they are completely available and completely set for the programme we are facing". He mentioned that the summer investment in players such as the German international and Alexander Isak, who is expected to be sidelined again against the Birmingham club through physical problems, had left the club "in an excellent position for the near future and the years to come".

Gelling Difficulties

When pressed on why his team were struggling to integrate, he replied: "That question isn't constructive. 'What are the reasons?' I give an explanation and people say I'm making justifications. I can identify several explanations why we are underperforming or suffering defeats as we do but, as I consistently state, there are inadequate reasons to have a run of form as we had now."

• Regardless of whether I could identify 200 excuses
• Leading this club you must avoid losses
• The reality is six losses from seven matches

Backline Performance

Only the Lancashire club (21) have faced more big chances from open play this season than Slot's team (nineteen). The league leaders, Arsenal, have allowed just two. Yet Liverpool's coach rejects the champions have been too open and maintains there is no justification to sacrifice his attacking principles for a defensive approach after ten fixtures without a shutout.

"From my perspective we don't giving up numerous openings so I find no basis to modify our philosophy completely but we need to do better in keeping clean sheets," he stated.

Particular Cases

"Versus the Red Devils, how many openings did we give up? Against Eintracht Frankfurt when we were 3-1 up, we hardly conceded a attempt on goal. In every match we played until now we haven't conceded a numerous openings. Not at all. We do concede a bit more than last season but that has to do with us being trailing by a goal so you take a bit more risk. But in general I don't think that our issue is that we allow too many opportunities. Our issue is we fail to convert the openings we produce."