‘big, Big Difference’—arne Slot Explains How Liverpool Ended Losing Run

Liverpool head Arne Slot boiled his side’s return to winning ways down to a very elemental but large difference: group pieces.

The reigning Premier League champions limped into Wednesday’s Champions League conflict pinch Eintracht Frankfurt connected nan backmost of 4 consecutive defeats. Not since 1953 had nan nine mislaid 5 connected nan spin. While location were clear protect issues astatine play during these losses, Slot routinely bemoaned his side’s deficiency of dead-ball efficiency.

Liverpool threatened to constitute an unwanted portion of history arsenic Frankfurt raced into an early lead, sweeping from 1 extremity of nan transportation to nan different arsenic Rasmus Kristensen fired nan hosts successful front.

Hugo Ekitiké hauled Liverpool level against his erstwhile employers wrong 10 minutes of nan opener, soon earlier Virgil van Dijk completed nan turnaround from a root which Slot greatly appreciated.

Liverpool’s skipper thumped successful a header from a 39th-minute corner. Ibrahima Konaté added 3rd from different group portion earlier nan first-half break, mounting nan foundations for a comfortable—and much-needed—5–1 win.

“We were capable to people 2 group pieces and that made a big, large difference,” Slot beamed postgame.

“The main quality betwixt this crippled and nan 4 earlier was that successful astir of them, nan different squad scored from a group portion and this time, we scored from 2 group pieces,” nan Dutch leader added.

However, it wasn’t an wholly complete capacity from nan Reds. “We created a fewer chances earlier we conceded and nan first chance we conceded was instantly a goal,” Slot sighed. “In nan extremity it turned retired to beryllium nan only chance we conceded. Why was that? Because we went 3-1 up, truthful past it’s easier to power nan crippled erstwhile you’re 1-0 down each nan time.”

“We needed a win,” he concluded. “What we needed much was different capacity wherever we create a batch of chances but nan players get nan reward pinch a win. That’s what happened today.”

Mohamed Salah (centre) started connected nan chair successful midweek. / Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images

Liverpool’s proficiency from group pieces whitethorn person returned, but Mohamed Salah notably dropped retired of nan spotlight. Benched for nan 2nd Champions League crippled successful succession, nan out-of-form Egyptian talisman watched connected arsenic his teammates thrived successful a reshuffled 4-4-2.

Florian Wirtz, nominally lining up connected Salah’s favoured correct flank, racked up his first 2 assists of nan Champions League run while Ekitiké—who started upfront pinch Alexander Isak—was erstwhile again impressive.

A groin injury for Isak should unfastened up a spot successful Liverpool’s frontline for Salah’s return against Brentford this weekend, but Slot has made it abundantly clear that nary subordinate is guaranteed a starting berth. Unless they tin people from group pieces, that is.

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