Arne Slot calls for Liverpool to be ‘perfect’

LONDON – Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted his team need to be “perfect” to halt their three-game English Premier League losing streak, as they seek to beat Brentford on Oct 25 to remain in touch with Arsenal and in-form Manchester City.

The Reds head into the match on the back of a 5-1 Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt in midweek. However, the team are still relatively shaky following 2-1 defeats by Manchester United, Chelsea and Crystal Palace, and a 1-0 loss to Galatasaray.

Liverpool are now third in the standings on 15 points, behind leaders Arsenal (19) and City (16).

Speaking on Oct 24, Slot also said he was not surprised that his team have struggled and needed time to adapt following a summer of busy transfer activity.

“I expected after many changes in the summer, even after seven wins in a row, you need to grow and adapt to each other,” the Dutchman said.

“You’ll have moments in the season where things are difficult, especially when you look at the schedule. We’re playing five of six games away.

“If you lose a few times, you have to keep telling the players they are on the right track. But we are in this moment in a period if we do one minor detail wrong, we concede a goal. Now we have to do 10 things perfect out of 10 to score.

“Some moments have been unlucky. A period of time like this, you have to be perfect.”

One talking point ahead of this match is whether the potential loss of the Premier League’s most expensive player in Alexander Isak to a groin injury could actually help Slot stumble upon the right formula to turn around Liverpool’s fortunes.

The Sweden attacker’s only goal since his £125 million (S$216 million) move from Newcastle United came against second-tier Southampton in the League Cup as a lack of pre-season conditioning has hampered his start to life at Anfield.

Isak was replaced at half-time during Champions League win at Frankfurt on Oct 22.

“Alex is not too bad. Question mark for the weekend and let’s see where he is. That’s the same to be said about Ryan (Gravenberch),” said Slot.

“Jeremie (Frimpong) is not in a good place. He’s definitely not going to play today tomorrow or next week. Hamstring injury is going to take a while.”

With Hugo Ekitike restored as the centre forward in place of Isak and Florian Wirtz able to operate in his preferred role behind the striker, Liverpool suddenly clicked into gear in the second half.

Wirtz, who was dropped for the last two Premier League games, registered his first two assists since a £100 million move from Bayer Leverkusen.

Despite Ekitike’s impressive start, which includes five goals in 11 Liverpool appearances, the Frenchman has not started in any of his side’s three Premier League defeats by Palace, Chelsea and United.

Isak’s absence should give the 23-year-old the run in the side he craved.

On Wirtz, Slot added: “His general game was something and the Liverpool fans liked. We’ve seen more of that already. If you lose a game, the focus is on the negative things, but when you win a game 5-1 with two set pieces people talk about your good attacks from open play.”

Not since February 2021 have Liverpool lost four consecutive Premier League games and beating Brentford is not a given for the Reds, who have suffered defeat in five of their last eight league away matches.

They have also lost each of their last four top-flight fixtures on the road against London-based teams.

The two teams will meet for the first time since January when Liverpool secured a 2-1 league away victory over the Bees courtesy of two stoppage-time goals from Darwin Nunez, who is no longer at the club. AFP