2 days ago
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Arne Slot has highlighted the 'big difference' between Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak after demanding Liverpool's players get their record signing more involved in play.
Isak found the net in last weekend's win over West Ham, finally breaking his goal drought since his British-record transfer from Newcastle in the summer. He kept his place against Sunderland in midweek but struggled to have any real impact.
The Swede managed just 14 touches in the midweek encounter and while Slot believes that is a theme for most strikers, he insists Isak, and his teammates, must do more to get the best out of him.
Speaking ahead of the trip to Leeds on Saturday, Slot said: "He isn't the only No.9 that suffers in some games of not getting many chances. It is obvious and clear to me that we want to get him into more threatening situations.
"We have been a little more compact in the last two games and as a result, have not created as many chances as we were in the games before.
"It is definitely one of the things for us to improve, to get the No.9 more involved in the game and more involved in the final third."
Slot used Manchester City talisman Haaland as an example to prove his point, after the Norwegian scored his 100th Premier League goal against Fulham, and provided two assists, despite seemingly not being involved in every facet of the game.
The Reds boss added: "In this league, strikers don't touch the ball that much but a few times they do touch it, it's quite nice they finish it off.
"I have no clue what Haaland's stats are. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't touch the ball so many times in a game but he scores a lot. It is more important to touch the ball at the right time.
"That is the big difference between Haaland and Isak, is that he touches the ball more times in moments that matter. We, and he, have to improve, that is obvious."
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Liverpool takes on Leeds looking to build on two stronger defensive performances against West Ham and Sunderland. But the Reds enter this weekend's matches in 9th in the table.
Asked about the change in approach, Slot said: "Four points from two games is different from the games before when we conceded seven goals. In the last two games we were a deflection away from keeping a clean sheet.
"It is a step forward. We didn't concede a set piece in those two games which is important. As a result of that we were able to get better results."
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