Arne Slot insists Liverpool are coming through a rocky spell after showing defensive improvements ahead of a testing visit to Leeds on Saturday, writes Oscar Howell at the AXA Training Centre.
After conceding seven goals in two home defeats to Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven, Liverpool have tightened up, taking four points and conceding only one goal in their last two games a 2-0 win at West Ham followed by Wednesday night’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland.
While the results haven’t completely diminished the pressure on Slot, the Dutchman says that recent performances have shown a clear step forward defensively.
He said: “In the last two games, we were one deflection away from keeping two clean sheets. I said against West Ham, the good thing for us was that they didn’t score their one and only chance and the same thing happened again in the Sunderland game.
“[The deflection] for me was not a chance. The only chance they had was after 93 minutes when they went one-on-one with the goalkeeper.”
The Reds boss also recognised the improvements in defending set-pieces, which have been a season-long issue for Liverpool.
He said: “We did not concede a set piece in both games which is also important. As a result of that, maybe we got the two results.”
the last two games have seen Mohamed Salah starting on the bench for the first time in his Liverpool career when fully fit. The Egyptian has been out of form this season but Slot didn’t rule out a return to the starting line-up for the trip to Elland Road.
He said: “Every player is in my mind to start a game of football because we have so many good players. Mo has been such an exceptional player for us. He is always in my mind to start or to come in.”
Slot also praised some promising signs of consistency from summer signing, Florian Wirtz.
the Germany international thought he had opened his Liverpool account against Sunderland, only for the finish to be later ruled as an own goal, but Slot insists the player’s confidence levels remain high.
He said: “If you can only have confidence when you score goals, that would be the wrong thing.
“I think you can see where his confidence is at if you look at the last two games – how many times he wants the ball and how many times his teammates play him the ball.”
I wasn’t surprised that he was involved in the goal against Sunderland, because he was one of the players – not the only one – who kept constantly trying and was creative.”
Ahead of Saturday’s teatime kick off at Leeds, Liverpool are ninth in the league on 22 points. They will hope to continue their unbeaten streak, but Slot recognises that it will not be a straightforward task against the Premier League newcomers who beat Chelsea 3-1 in midweek.
He said: “ [Against Chelsea] Leeds went very aggressive to one-v-one or they went to a low block and it was really hard to create chances.
“That is a difficult playing style to play against. They had a lot of long balls as well from their goalkeeper. We know what to expect.”
