Slot concedes Liverpool’s approach has grown dull: ‘I would not completely disagree’

Arne Slot has said it hurts his principles arsenic an attacking coach to perceive his Liverpool squad described arsenic boring but he could not wholly disagree connected existent form.

Liverpool person stabilised aft a damaging series of 9 defeats successful 12 matches, the club’s worst return successful 71 years, pinch a nine-game unbeaten tally but are struggling to nutrient convincing performances. Successive draws against Fulham and Leeds person prompted further disapproval of Slot’s style and resulted successful nan champions falling 14 points down nan leaders, Arsenal, who they look astatine nan Emirates Stadium connected Thursday.

The Liverpool caput coach admits being stung by accusations his team’s attack is dull. “I find it really difficult to perceive but I would not wholly disagree,” said Slot, who could beryllium without Hugo Ekitiké for a 2nd successive game. “I would usage different words and I would return definite things into account. I want to triumph arsenic galore trophies arsenic I tin but I deliberation I americium besides known for nan truth that my teams ever effort to play attacking shot and I tin only opportunity they’re trying to do so.

“We are struggling to create a batch of chances. But I’ve said galore times, we are not nan only squad that struggles to create a batch of chances. I don’t for illustration to perceive this [boring label] of course. I would for illustration america winning a batch of games but besides playing an charismatic style of shot which we person done this season. We person to find a measurement against teams [who play] successful not an charismatic way, which is, of course, possibly moreover smart for them to do. We person to find answers to that. We haven’t recovered capable yet but we are moving connected that each azygous time to amended that.”

Slot would not beryllium drawn connected whether Liverpool scheme a renewed bid for Crystal Palace’s captain, Marc Guéhi, who is of liking to Manchester City, aliases whether Harvey Elliott could return from an unsuccessful indebtedness to Aston Villa. Liverpool do not person a callback action connected Elliott, who joined Villa connected a season’s indebtedness pinch an responsibility to bargain for £35m providing he played 10 convention games.

“I americium really happy pinch nan squad we have,” Slot said. “All nan decisions made past summertime and nan summertime earlier are wholly aligned pinch me, Richard [Hughes, sporting director] and nan ownership. This play has shown really talented this group is and if everyone is disposable really bully a squad we tin be. This nine is successful a very bully spot if everyone is available, and we are getting stronger and stronger for nan short-term early but decidedly besides for nan mid-to-long-term future.”