Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has insisted that his new full-backs are not to blame for the team's defensive struggles this season, instead pointing to a collective issue and a need to improve at set pieces. The Reds have conceded seven goals in six Premier League games, a stark contrast to last season's title-winning campaign when they allowed just two in the same period.
The introduction of Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez as replacements for Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson has been cited as a factor, but Slot dismissed that notion. 'Look into more details – we've conceded four goals from set pieces this season,' he said. 'When I think about the goals we've conceded, the first thing that comes to mind is not that the full-backs are a problem.'
Slot emphasised that defending is a team effort and identified set pieces as a key area for improvement after Crystal Palace scored twice from such situations in a 2-0 defeat on Saturday. 'It's something we definitely have to improve,' he added. 'I see teams in the Premier League that win games by set pieces and we lose games by set pieces.'
Liverpool face Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday, a side that scored 24 set-piece goals last season. Slot acknowledged the Turkish club's strength in that area but recalled his own team's success from set pieces, including Virgil van Dijk's winner in their last Champions League match. Federico Chiesa was left out of the travelling squad due to a minor injury.
In other news, Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitiké welcomed the signing of Alexander Isak, despite the £125m forward posing a threat to his place. 'It is good that Alex is here,' Ekitiké said. 'For me, at my age, I have a lot of things to improve and learn.'
