Premier League champions are seeking to bounce back from three successive league defeats
Liverpool players must “find new connections” on the pitch after a busy summer saw several additions to the squad, manager Arne Slot has said.
The champions started the season well, with five wins out of five, but have now dropped to third in the table and four points behind leaders Arsenal, following losses to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Manchester United.
Slot urged his side to rediscover their rhythm, saying that “quite a few changes in the squad means everyone needs to find new connections”. However, he also said his side were suffering from a tactical shift in the league this season and needed to adapt quickly.
“I try to tell [the players] that the main difference between this season and last season is the playing styles we face,” Slot said.
“We had to defend 178 long balls in [the first] seven games, and then the United game, we had to defend 59 long balls. That’s different than the first half of last season.
“When I tried to explain this in the media, it was actually more of a compliment for the other manager [Ruben Amorim], that he found the right answer to our playing style.
“But I think if I’m correct, that wasn’t how people looked at it.”
The Dutchman also came to the defence of Mohamed Salah, who has faced scrutiny for his poor performances of late. The Egyptian has two goals in eight games, which is low by his standards, and has missed big chances and seemed technically weak in front of goal.
“Players miss chances and he is a human being,” said Slot. “We are not used to him missing chances.
“The main thing is that he always has scored goals for Liverpool. The last thing I worry about is Mo scoring goals again. He’s done that his entire life and I expect him to do that again in the coming weeks and months.”
