Slott: Manchester United have started better than the table suggests; our three successive defeats have been by narrow margins

October 17 News At 23:30 on October 19, the 8th round of the Premier League ushered in a double red meeting, and Liverpool faced Manchester United at home. Before the game, Liverpool coach Slott attended the press conference.

About the injury situation

Sloter: "Grafenberch has fully recovered and is in good condition although he still needs to train. Our Dutch players are in good condition. Konate has returned to us and is expected to participate in training today. Alisson has not trained, so he will be absent. How long will he be absent? It is difficult to say, because the final stage of recovery always has pros and cons, but it will not affect this weekend or next week's game."

Aspects that need to change

Sloter Te: "I think it can be said: compared to last season, we did not create as many chances as before, but we had the highest expected goals, chances and shots on target. However, we conceded too many goals. 4 of the 9 goals conceded came from set pieces, which does not reflect the chances we actually gave. The other 5 goals conceded included 2 quick counterattacks and 3 goals conceded in open play. We were defeated by crosses too many times and must solve this problem and improve. As Van Dijk said, I think he meant it. The way the hand faces us changes. This is also what I mentioned. Compared with last season, the proportion of long balls has reached one-third of last season after 7 games. We have to find a way to deal with it. "

Salah's form

Sloter: "I don't think it matters who we play against on Sunday. When you lose three games in a row and you're wearing a Liverpool shirt, you have to respond. The players gave it their all from the first minute to the last minute of every game, twice in three games we Came from behind to tie but still lost the game. There should be a reaction at all times, not just from Salah but from all the players. "

About Manchester United

Sloter: "I am even more looking forward to playing against Manchester United. I know how special this game is. This is one of the most watched matches in the world, so it means a lot to be a part of it and we have to be at our best. United are actually starting better than the table suggests, so this will be a very interesting contest, especially at Anfield. proceed. The fans always support us. As a team that has lost three games in a row, we need to be ready, and the fans must and will help us. "

Overall opinion

Sloter: "If you are the team that creates the most opportunities, you can say that we caught our opponents off guard, but obviously the opportunities we created are not as good as last season. We need to avoid conceding goals. One way to win is to score 1-2 goals, but if the other team scores we need to score 2-3 goals. sometimes i They rely on the flash of the front three or set pieces to score. But this season has lacked moments, highlights and set-piece goals. Although we are only 1 point behind Arsenal, for a team aiming to compete for the championship, conceding 4 set-piece goals is obviously too many. "

Isaak

Sloter: "He trained for five to six weeks, which is normal. Physically he is close to the mark and we can make a fair assessment from now on. I understand the rules of this industry, if he appears Twice without scoring a goal certainly didn't live up to expectations. But he hasn't and I think his adjustment period is probably just over and he's played a few 70-80 minute games. So let's see how he's doing."

Three consecutive losses

Sloter: "These players may need my guidance, but I don't think they need me to tell them what has happened. All three of our defeats were by very small margins: two goals conceded in stoppage time, one a penalty that should have been passed VAR changed the decision. We shouldn't rely on luck. The away game against Chelsea was a close match, but the result doesn't lie. Having suffered three consecutive defeats, we must do better. Players won't be losing sleep at night because of this, but we have to be vigilant and responsive. Regardless of victory or defeat, we must maintain normality, but after three consecutive losses, we look forward to a spark from the whole team and fans on Sunday, and to contribute one or two percent more energy.

"I guess everyone is talking about the losing streak, but I'm not sure. This is the reality. Instead of talking about it for two weeks, why not jump into the next one as soon as possible. The great thing about top players is that whether you have three wins in a row or three losses in a row, you don't notice anything out of the ordinary, they always prepare the same way. The outside world pays attention to the results, and so do we, and we are not shy about this: we must do better. All ten games have been close and we are working hard every day to increase our advantage. "

McAllister

Sloter: "I didn't watch his interview. Did he mean the quality of the game or the playing time? He missed many games and was expected to participate in pre-season training but failed to do so. As a result, he was unable to play three consecutive games and his form was intermittent. This is by no means an ideal situation for the player. But like everyone else, he is an experienced player and will get back to the level he and I both expect from now on. "

7 games in 3 weeks

Sloter: "Interesting challenge... We need to let some players gradually increase their playing time, but it is impossible to let zero-playing players play three games a week, so the lineup has to be adjusted. All teams will face a dense schedule, which is why we need more than eleven players. If you want to rotate, you have to let the same group of players play together more. But it’s almost impossible to keep every player in a fixed position, and a balance must be found. The existing players have been working together for longer, with Isaac and Ekitic occupying the nine position and both familiar with the system. I'm relieved to have over eleven available players. "

Offensive and defensive balance and Salah's position

Sloter: "Wiltz and Szoboszlai are both attacking midfielders, but they must also participate in defense. As for Cucurella's comments about Salah, I could name five or six moments where Salah could change the situation, but that would be another discussion. The balance between wingers and full-backs is always delicate... I want our full-backs to be able to attack as well, but it's about finding the sweet spot. We conceded too many goals from crosses, which I know very well must improve. "