19 hours ago
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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has admitted that the team's performances have been "ridiculous" this season, with two more losses already this campaign than they had in the entire Premier League-winning season.
Slot has only just recovered from Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, Liverpool's eighth loss in 11 games. On Tuesday, the Dutch head coach addressed the media ahead of the team's Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday.
Liverpool has performed well in the Champions League this season, winning three of four matches, including a recent 1-0 win over Real Madrid. However, Liverpool has just one Premier League win since September 20, and Slot has reacted to the sloppy title defense.
"It is ridiculous. It is unbelievable," Slot said on Tuesday. "I have said many times, you will never find enough excuses for us to perform like this.
"It's unexpected for the club, for me, for everyone. But this is maybe the best club to face it, the harder it gets at this club, the more we are together.
"We are conceding more goals than last season. This time last season, we conceded zero set-pieces; now it is nine. The number of goals is close to ridiculous for a club like us."
Liverpool made a strong start to the season, winning the first seven games in all competitions. However, while the results were flawless, the performances were less than convincing, and Liverpool has been found out.
Conceding goals has become a serious issue, but unlike at the start of the season, scoring goals has become a challenge. Slot is confident that he won't panic as he attempts to turn things around, but he's facing unprecedented pressure after a title-winning campaign.
"In order to stay calm, I don't find it that difficult to do. It's in my character," Slot said. "Most people would describe me as a calm person.
"These situations, it's not really nice, is it? It's not nice to lose, especially at such a club like Liverpool. To be honest, I didn't expect to be in this situation, the way we go about it tactically, and the quality of players we have.
"You can say it's the sixth our of seven loss in Premier League but I can say in last four matches we've lost two, and in the Champions League we've won three. But it's lower than the level expected at Liverpool.
"I take the responsibility, I feel guilty for it. We are busy working on it. I'm at the club where we aren't just used to being successful, but also times when we aren't. We are going to give extra effort. As a manager, I try to lead by example and try even harder."
Liverpool hosts PSV at Anfield on Wednesday, but although Slot knows the visitors well, the Dutch club is performing well this season. PSV has only lost two games this season, and is top of the Eredivisie with 11 wins in 13 games.
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