Arne Slot has demanded a reaction from his Liverpool side ahead of this weekend’s crucial clash against Manchester United.
Liverpool head into the contest against their fierce rivals in poor form, having lost three consecutive games in all competitions before the international break.
Recent performances have halted a strong start to the season, with the Reds replaced by Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
Liverpool host a Manchester United side this weekend who are also struggling for consistency. However, Slot is not underestimating Ruben Amorim’s side, ahead of the fixture he looks forward to more than any other.
“I look forward to every single Premier League game, but maybe more the Man United one because I know how special it is,” he said at his pre-match press conference.
“We know it’s the game that is perhaps watched the most all over the world. It’s a game we have to be at our best, because in my opinion United have had a better start to the season than the league table suggests.”
One player who has struggled to replicate last season’s standards is Mohamed Salah, with the Egyptian netting just once from open play in the Premier League this season. Salah boasts a brilliant record in this fixture, but Slot said he is expecting a response from every one of his players at Anfield.
“If you have lost three games in a row and you wear a Liverpool shirt it doesn’t matter who your next opponent is, you have to react. Not only from Mo [Salah] but from all the players.
“If we compare ourselves to last season we don’t create as many chances as we did at the start of last season. But we are still the team that from open play creates the most xG and shots on target, but we are conceding too many goals.
“We have conceded nine goals and four from set pieces, but that is not a reflection of the chances we have conceded. The other five were from fast breaks and open play, from open play we are conceding too many crosses, that is something we have to address and do better at. We are facing more long balls.”
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