Arne Slot relishing Crystal Palace challenge as Liverpool eye Community Shield title
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Liverpool manager Arne Slot declined to be drawn on whether the Premier League champions will pursue Newcastle striker Alexander Isak to replace Uruguayan forward Darwin Nunez.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
- Liverpool manager Arne Slot aims for a Community Shield win against Crystal Palace to start the season strong, preparing for their title defence.
- Slot acknowledges Crystal Palace's threats: counter-attacks, set-pieces, and the individual quality of forwards like Jean-Philippe Mateta.
- Darwin Nunez might leave, and Liverpool have signed players like Hugo Ekitike but Slot avoids commenting on potential targets like Isak.
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LONDON – Liverpool manager Arne Slot said on Aug 8 his side are relishing the challenge of facing Crystal Palace in the Community Shield, as the English Premier League champions aim to begin the new season with silverware and prepare for their title defence.
The Reds, who won the Premier League last season to secure a record-equalling 20th English title, meet FA Cup winners Palace at Wembley on Aug 10.
They are eyeing a 17th Community Shield title, with their latest coming in 2022.
“It’s nice if you can start the season by winning something,” Slot said.
“We have a chance at the beginning of the season. But we face a difficult Crystal Palace side. They have shown how hard it is to win a one-off game with them.
“Counter-attacks, set pieces, long balls to (Palace striker Jean-Philippe) Mateta and individual quality of their forwards. Palace hit the ground running again, it is still the same team. A good challenge for us.”
Liverpool’s last trip to Wembley ended in a surprise 2-1 League Cup final loss against Newcastle United in March, but Slot was not dwelling on that.
“Not looking back because it’s a different system Newcastle played,” the Dutchman added.
“But the way they played might be similar to how Palace play. They used every free kick to get the ball in our box. Palace are also a threat at set pieces. There are maybe a few overlaps between the two sides.
“On Sunday, one goal will be worth a lot.”
Liverpool have signed Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, among others, in the transfer window, while forward Darwin Nunez has been linked with a move to Saudi side Al-Hilal.
Slot was asked about Nunez’s future and if his side will pursue Newcastle striker Alexander Isak as the 26-year-old’s replacement. British media reported that Liverpool were interested in signing Isak, who has three years left on his Newcastle contract.
The Swede bagged 23 Premier League goals last campaign, only behind Liverpool talisman and Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah (29).
“You never talk about players that are not yours, so I can talk to you about Hugo, who we have signed recently and has done really well until now,” Slot said.
“We are very happy with the squad and there is every reason to be happy because we won the league last season. Okay, players left, but we have brought players in as well and the youngsters (are) doing well.
“At this moment in time, Darwin might leave but things are not signed yet so we need to wait a few days until that is completely done, but there is a chance he could leave.”
Palace, meanwhile, head into the Community Shield with a worry list ranging from injuries and lacklustre transfer business to their pending appeal against Uefa’s decision to demote them from the Europa League.
Manager Oliver Glasner guided Palace to a new height in May as they won their first major trophy, beating Manchester City to clinch the FA Cup. But joy at the South London side’s first appearance in the Community Shield has been dampened by their off-field issues.
Palace were dropped to Uefa’s third-tier Conference League in a multi-club ownership breach because John Textor, president of Lyon’s majority owners Eagle Football Group, also had a controlling stake in Palace.
Eagle sold its stake in Palace in July, and the English club appealed against the demotion at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with the hearing set later in August.
“If you have to play in the Conference League, it feels like we have been punished,” Glasner said.
“We hope that this verdict brings us back into the Europa League because, as I said, we haven’t done anything wrong.”
To add to Glasner’s worries, striker Eddie Nketiah is out for eight weeks after a hamstring injury during pre-season and midfielder Cheick Doucoure will not return for another two months.
“We have also had injuries to (Matheus) Franca and (Caleb) Kporha too. So we are short of numbers. If we want to be competitive, we have to add players with good quality,” Glasner added. REUTERS
