Arne Slot has recommended Liverpool’s struggles in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United had been predominantly as a result of Pink Devils’ techniques.
The Reds seemed off the tempo for lengthy intervals, with United much-improved from their current three-game shedding streak, during which they’d failed to attain a objective.
“We began very well. We had three open probabilities within the sport after which there was a time frame which was tougher for us,” Slot informed BBC Radio 5 Stay.
“It’s tough in the event you play towards high quality gamers which are enjoying in a low block, with solely [Rasmus] Hojlund and [Amad] Diallo because the attackers.
“It’s not at all times straightforward to seek out the gaps and that’s what occurred. Then being 1-0 down makes it much more tough, however I used to be very proud of the mentality we confirmed afterwards going 2-1 up.”
In addition to analysing his personal facet’s efficiency, Slot was eager to offer credit score to the guests.
Lisandro Martinez had initially put United 1-0 up within the second half and, whereas they briefly went 2-1 down, Diallo produced the second of the match to make it 2-2 late on.
“They’ve high quality with the ball and with out the ball. They’re tough to play via. It was so open after they began to play. You possibly can see extra how good they’re if they’re making an attempt to play,” Slot informed Match of the Day.
“For the primary 75 minutes, [Andre] Onana performed the ball lengthy and each free-kick they bought, they simply hit it ahead. Within the final quarter-hour, you might see in the event that they play over the bottom, how good they’re.
“Folks neglect all the probabilities we had. That they had the open probability from [Harry] Maguire. We had many extra probabilities than them however, in the long run, we might have undoubtedly misplaced it with the Maguire probability.”
That didn’t final lengthy.
Seven minutes after going behind, Liverpool are stage!
Cody Gakpo has scored in three successive Premier League video games for the primary time in his Liverpool profession.#LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/v8TM9icG7i
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) January 5, 2025
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk echoed his supervisor’s feedback in enjoying down the house facet’s poor efficiency.
“It might have been rather a lot worse, if we’re completely trustworthy with ourselves. That they had a giant probability in the long run and that might have been rather a lot worse than the place we at the moment are,” he informed BBC Radio 5 Stay.
“I’m undoubtedly dissatisfied with dropping factors at house, however it’s what’s and now we have to maneuver on and we are going to.
“We discovered the 2-1 after which it’s about making an attempt to handle the sport and retaining the ball for longer than three and 4 passes.
“We misplaced the ball too simply at instances after which we had been extra open than we must always have been. We aren’t excellent, we’re nonetheless studying and now we have to study from this as nicely.”
Van Dijk additionally rejected the notion that the Liverpool gamers had underestimated United, who had been 14th within the desk earlier than the sport.
“That’s all of the media – media speak. It’s nothing to do with us,” he mentioned. “We ready for a really robust sport like now we have seen as we speak.
“We didn’t suppose any of that. We have a look at the subsequent sport, we don’t have a look at the league desk.”
