4 hours ago
3
Arne Slot believes that Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah will form a formidable partnership at Liverpool the more they play together. Isak, who was signed for $169 million (£125M) on transfer deadline day, made only his second Premier League start for the Reds since his record-breaking move from Newcastle United, as the champions suffered a 2-1 loss to Chelsea on Saturday.
Moises Caicedo netted the opener in the first half, followed by Cody Gakpo leveling the score with his second goal of the season, before substitute Estevao clinched the win for the London side in the 95th minute, marking Liverpool's third consecutive defeat in a week.
Despite struggling to find their rhythm, Salah and Isak showed promise, particularly towards the end of the first half when Isak nearly scored from an impressive cross by the Egyptian.
Slot is confident that the high-profile forwards will develop a strong understanding the more they share the pitch.
"The more they play together the more they will connect," the Liverpool head coach stated. "In the second half, we were able to get our attacking players in much more promising positions than the first half.
"For me, it wasn't a disconnect or time needed for the forwards to do better. I think what we had to do better in the build up.
"Last season we lost against Chelsea as well. Stamford Bridge is always difficult. We were very close to [getting] a result. Small margins.
"As I said at Galatasaray, we had a one-vs-one then they get a penalty. We concede in extra, extra time against Crystal Palace. And then today, they score a goal that could go at either end.
"After we scored 1-1 it went our way and I think I was waiting for us to score the second. Decision making could've been better, the last 10-15 minutes was end-to-end.
"We arrived in their 18-yard box with [Andy] Robertson, we couldn't control the ball but again it's fine margins like it's been for as long as I've been here.
"Last week, same as this week, two difficult away games, the fine margins haven't been in our favour."
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Slot added: "It's another disappointing loss, that's clear. Another game similar to the Palace game although the playing style of both teams was completely different.
"In the first half, we played not our best football but we were able to create three big chances.
"They only had one and they scored it, which was completely different to the Palace game where they created a lot of chances in the first half.
"The second half, like against Palace, I liked. We created more than enough chances to score more than one goal, last week and today, and when we did there was a period of the game where I thought we were going to win it."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Liverpool ECHO by clicking here.
English (US) ·