Arne Slot admitted Liverpool are nonetheless a piece in progress after the spluttering Premier League champions suffered their third successive loss in a 2-1 defeat towards Chelsea on Saturday.
For the second time within the area of per week, Liverpool’s title defence was rocked by an agonising last-gasp loss.
Overwhelmed within the last seconds at Crystal Palace final weekend, Slot’s aspect stumbled once more as Estevao Willian grabbed a dramatic stoppage-time winner at Stamford Bridge.
Moises Caicedo had blasted Chelsea into an early lead with an outstanding long-range strike earlier than Cody Gakpo equalised within the second half.
After beginning the season with seven successive wins in all competitions, the Reds misplaced to Palace, then Galatasaray within the Champions League in midweek earlier than their newest flop in west London.
It’s the first time that Liverpool have suffered three consecutive losses since 2023 when Jurgen Klopp was in cost for defeats towards Bournemouth, Actual Madrid and Manchester Metropolis.
For Slot, it was a primary expertise in his managerial profession of three defeats in a row.
Even when Liverpool had been profitable initially of the season, they wanted a number of late objectives to paper over the cracks in some creaky performances.
And Slot believes his crew will not be but performing at full energy due to their summer time spending spree and the tragic demise of Portugal ahead Diogo Jota in a automobile crash in Spain.
Liverpool splashed out over £400 million ($539 million) on Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and a bunch of different gamers, however their two marquee signings have but to shine.
“You’re by no means near your best. It’s a must to work very arduous to succeed in a sure degree after which it is arduous to keep up that degree since you play towards different high quality groups,” Slot stated.
“We had our adjustments in the summertime. Gamers got here in at totally different moments. Within the final weeks there has hardly been any coaching time. We have to carry these gamers into our model.
“If we had a draw as we speak we might have had an excellent begin to the season if you happen to bear in mind every little thing that occurred in the summertime with Liverpool.”
‘It wasn’t a couple of disconnection’
Liverpool took 51 minutes to muster a shot on track towards a Chelsea aspect lacking out a bunch of injured and suspended defenders.
The Blues, crushed of their earlier two league video games, have additionally been struggling to search out their kind, however Liverpool had been unable to take benefit.
“One other disappointing loss, that’s clear. We created three massive possibilities within the first half, they solely had one and so they scored it,” stated Slot, whose crew host Manchester United of their subsequent match after the worldwide break.
“The second half efficiency I appreciated. We created greater than sufficient to attain multiple purpose. There have been durations the place I believed we had been going to win it.
“We did not play the final move effectively sufficient in these possibilities. It was finish to finish in the previous couple of minutes. Both crew might have gained it and Chelsea did.”
Sweden striker Isak and Egypt ahead Mohamed Salah as soon as once more did not discover a optimistic connection, however Slot is assured they’ll hit it off ultimately.
“The extra they play collectively the extra they’ll join. I needed to take (Ibrahima) Konate off as a result of he felt his quad. When Ryan (Gravenberch) began to play in that place we began to get our attacking gamers in significantly better positions,” he stated.
“It wasn’t a couple of disconnection between gamers. We needed to do significantly better with our build-up and that is what we did within the second half.”
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca didn’t attend the post-match press convention after being despatched off for his jubilant dash down the touchline to have a good time Estevao’s winner.
“He’s okay. Sadly he cannot be right here due to the crimson card however he was so completely happy after the sport,” Maresca’s assistant Willy Caballero stated.
“Now we have been holding our feelings for the final couple of weeks as a result of we’ve got been taking part in effectively and never profitable. At this time was actually vital.”
