1 week ago
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Match of the Day pundits Ashley Williams and Michael Carrick have outlined where things went awry for Liverpool during Saturday evening's 3-2 loss to Brentford, making a couple of concerning observations about the Reds' play.
Mohamed Salah's 89th-minute strike wasn't enough to salvage a point for Arne Slot's men, who slumped to their fourth successive Premier League defeat despite a spirited late rally. Slot cut a frustrated figure on the touchline as two penalty appeals were waved away by match officials.
But the Reds can't solely blame the unfavorable penalty calls for the loss. Liverpool's backline has appeared vulnerable this season, and disappointed again against Brentford. They have shipped 14 goals in their opening nine fixtures - already 34 percent of the total goals they conceded throughout the entirety of last campaign.
Williams offered his thoughts on Liverpool's defense, saying: "Brentford show a little bit of class actually and it's a really good goal from their point of view.
"As they win the ball back, Damsgaard, who is a cracking little player, that pass is sublime, splitting the centre-backs. It's a brilliant run from Schade, keeps his composure.
"I think Mamardashvili will be a little disappointed but if you look at the defending from Liverpool's point of view, we've highlighted the two centre-backs there, Konate can see him and has a 15-yard head start on him and he just doesn't realize the danger at all, until it's too late.
"Both of them are nowhere near him when he puts the ball in the back of the net. Van Dijk doesn't really sprint back, Konate can't get back.
"He puts it down the middle of the goal and I think the goalkeeper will be disappointed. From Liverpool's point of view, that's an unacceptable goal. I think possibly because of the penalty shout just before that, they might have been thinking about that but it's not good enough."
The latest setback marks Liverpool's fourth consecutive Premier League defeat. The last time the club endured four successive league losses was under Jurgen Klopp in 2021.
Five-time Premier League champion Carrick reckons the players' mindset has changed, with the losing streak seemingly getting into their heads. He further explained: "I try to put it in perspective of a player's mindset really. Being in it personally, you go through really good runs and good times and it comes quite easy.
"You're in a flow and confidence is there, you're not quite thinking too much. You're instinctive and it all goes to plan.
"Then a couple of little things, little details that don't go your way and it snowballs a little bit. You can start thinking as a player, 'I'm doing exactly the same, I'm putting the same effort in. I'm trying to do the same things they're just not coming off.'
"At the minute it looks like they're second-guessing a little bit. A few new players and a lot of talent in that group but it just shows you how hard winning is.
"It doesn't take much for it to look harder than it did. I do think they'll be okay, but they need to put a stop to that run pretty quickly."
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