The Reds Will Not Abandon Attacking Style Amid Poor Run of Form, Declares Arne Slot
The Dutch manager has revealed that the Anfield decision-makers share his views regarding the recent downturn and he refuses to compromise their offensive approach in search of a solution. The manager conceded that six defeats in seven games was unacceptable ahead of Aston Villa's visit.
Pressure Mounting Throughout Tough Spell
Slot accepted the scrutiny was intense before his makeshift team were eliminated from the Carabao Cup against the London club. However, he maintained that this pressure to arrest the slide is not coming from the Anfield hierarchy or management structure following a summer transfer outlay of almost £450m.
"They say similar things," commented the manager, whose team next week face Real Madrid in the continental tournament and play against Pep Guardiola's side in the English top flight.
Team Strength Stays Unchallenged
Slot believes his team "have an unbelievable squad if they are fully healthy and all ready for the programme we are facing". He said that the summer investment in talents including the German international and Alexander Isak, who is expected to be sidelined again against Aston Villa through injury, had left the club "in such a good place for the immediate prospects and the years to come".
Integration Challenges
When questioned about why his team were taking so long to gel, he responded: "That question isn't constructive. 'What are the reasons?' I provide reasons and people say I'm making justifications. I can list multiple factors why we are not winning as much or suffering defeats as we do but, as I consistently state, there are insufficient justifications to have a run of form as we had now."
- Regardless of whether I could identify multiple factors
- Leading this club you must avoid losses
- In truth six losses from seven matches
Defensive Statistics
Only the Clarets (21) have conceded more clear opportunities from normal situations this season than Liverpool (nineteen). The league leaders, the North London club, have faced two. Yet Liverpool's coach rejects the team has been overly exposed and claims there is no justification to sacrifice his attacking principles for a defensive approach after ten fixtures without a clean sheet.
"In my view we're not allowing many opportunities so I see no justification to alter our approach entirely but we must improve in keeping clean sheets," he stated.
Particular Cases
"Versus the Red Devils, how many opportunities did we allow? When playing Frankfurt when we were 3-1 up, we barely allowed a attempt on goal. In all the games we have competed in we haven't conceded a numerous openings. Absolutely not. We do give away a bit more than the prior term but that stems from us being 1-0 down so you become more adventurous. But overall I don't think that our problem is that we allow too many opportunities. Our problem is we don't score the opportunities we generate."
