15 hours ago
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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has admitted that he may have to change a "few details" to turn fortunes around, but refuses to alter his style of play completely.
When Jurgen Klopp announced that he would be leaving Liverpool after nine years, fans were concerned for the future, until Slot took charge of the club. Slot led Liverpool to its second Premier League title during his first season, though he did so with Klopp's squad, with the exception of Federico Chiesa.
However, after winning the first seven games of this season, Liverpool has collapsed and has now lost eight of the last 11. Saturday's 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest has increased the pressure on Slot, but while he's open to making changes, the head coach only wants to make minor tweaks.
Liverpool hosts PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night, and although they've struggled domestically, Slot has inspired three wins in four Champions League games. Liverpool has celebrated wins over Atletico Madrid, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Real Madrid, but suffered a shock loss to Galatasaray.
Slot will hope to keep the European momentum rolling on Wednesday, but the majority of his pregame press conference was focused on Saturday's result. Liverpool was humiliated 3-0 at home, and patience is wearing thin on Merseyside.
When asked whether changes would be made to reimagine how the team plays, Slot remained undecided. While the Liverpool head coach is keen to eradicate conceding set pieces, he doesn't want to scrap his tactical plans.
"No and yes," Slot told reporters. "No, because I don't think you have to do anything completely different, that wouldn't be right to us and the players. They want to play a certain way.
"But a little bit yes, because if you're a fan of the Premier League, it's going in a different way, you see a different way of playing. That maybe means we have to change a few details in how we play.
"The players are more or less the same the most part. You have to have a certain physicality especially in terms of height.
"But that's not an excuse we've conceded that many set-piece goals. The Forest defeat gave us a bit of a smack in the face."
Liverpool has conceded nine set-piece goals already this season, the same number they allowed during the entirety of last season. However, approximately 27 percent of Premier League goals have been scored from set pieces this season, the second-highest rate in history.
The style of play in the Premier League has changed this season, with a greater reliance on dead-ball situations, long throws, and headers. Arsenal has proven to be the best team in the league at set pieces and currently sits at the top of the table.
Liverpool's defense was a concern heading into the new season, and the change of emphasis has caught Slot off guard. After facing PSV, Liverpool has another chance to get back to winning ways domestically on the road against West Ham.
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