Arne Slot admits 'frustration' over Liverpool issue as summer signings overshadowed

Arne Slot says summer signings Wirtz, Ekitike, Kerkez and Frimpong are developing well but their progress is overshadowed by Liverpool's fourth successive 1-1 draw

Arne Slot gestures on the touchline(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Arne Slot believes the development of Liverpool's summer recruits is being overshadowed by their continued inability to convert draws into victories.

The Reds were held to a fourth consecutive Premier League draw when they could only manage a 1-1 result at home against struggling Burnley on Saturday afternoon, in a blow to their hopes of finishing in the Champions League places.

Following Dominik Szoboszlai's penalty miss, Florian Wirtz put Slot's side ahead with a well-deserved goal, only for Marcus Edwards to level the score midway through the second half during Burnley's solitary spell of attacking threat, and Liverpool failed to find a late winner.

Hugo Ekitike played a role in Liverpool's goal, whilst fellow summer arrivals Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong also featured in the starting line-up.

Slot insists the ongoing improvement from individual players risks being overlooked given the frustrating run of results, despite Liverpool now extending their unbeaten streak to 12 matches across all competitions.

"We all have a lot of frustration about the result and sometimes it's also a frustration for me that all the development some players are going through is not being seen, because the results don't show how the development of the team and individual players is," said the Reds boss.

"Milos, he had another good game. Florian scored another great goal and was involved in a lot of other moments as well.

"Jeremie Frimpong, another good game from him. A big, big, big threat on that right side.

"Results don't always reflect development and that I would almost say is another frustration because it's also hard for the players to feel we are improving and they are improving if the results are not as we want them to be.

"Of course, we can talk about 12 games in a row now without a loss but our standards are higher than not losing. Our standards are winning every game.

Slot admitted he understands and shares the frustration felt by the home supporters. "Yes, in my head it wasn't a boo, but in my head it was frustration as well," Slot said during his post-match press conference. "We are Liverpool and we play against Burnley.

"We have to give them credit [for] how they defended, cleared balls off the line, all the things you want to see if you are a Burnley manager, players that try to do everything to prevent us from scoring.