HAPPY? NO,WE’VE GOT SLOTS TO IMPROVE ON!
Despite big win over United Reds boss displeased with defending
ARNE SLOT wants Liverpool to improve defensively despite beating Manchester United 3-0 in the final friendly of their USA tour.
Goals from Fabio Carvalho, Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas helped the Reds to victory in Columbia.
Yet the Dutchman was not entirely satisfied with his team’s performance, despite three wins from three in the US.
“We are very happy with the result, we scored some really nice goals,” said the Liverpool manager.
“But I don’t think we had enough control over the game because United were threatening us more than a few times.
“It’s a 3-0 win but the score could have been different as well. It’s been a very positive tour. Of course the results, that’s where everybody is looking at.
“But the players stayed fit and they are able to perform in the way we want.
“I see the team working really, really hard not to concede. But we gave away too many chances.
“United deserved more than a 3-0 loss. But it’s also our quality that we do score our own chances.” Liverpool immediately flew back to Merseyside after the match ahead of their final friendly against Sevilla at Anfield this Sunday.
Captain Virgil van Dijk and vice-captain Trent Alexanderarnold are among those back in training this week.
Slot added: “A lot of players will come back from their holiday. It’s interesting to see how these players fit into the team and we’ll implement them as soon as we can.
“We need to work hard in the upcoming two weeks to be ready for Ipswich because there are a lot of positives to take from today but also we gave away too many chances.”
United’s lack of a clinical finisher was apparent.
Although they created chances they were unable to put the ball in the net, with boss Erik Ten Hag admitting his forwards need to be more clinical.
”Liverpool played well and took their chances,” he said. “That is the absolute truth.
“We also created good chances, but we didn’t take them. We need to be more clinical there and efficient.
“In the end it’s maybe fatigue. We’ve been here for 12 or 13 days. It was a tough game and maybe you miss the freshness and don’t have the power to be clinical.”
United’s problems at the back were also exposed, with new £59million defender Leny Yoro out for three months after suffering a suspected broken metatarsal in a 2-1 friendly defeat to Arsenal in Los Angeles.
Jonny Evans came off feeling ill at half-time during the Liverpool defeat, with Ten Hag leaving Harry Maguire out of the game entirely, because he could not afford to risk losing another defender to injury.
Asked if he expected changes to his squad before the transfer deadline, Ten Hag said: “It’s always difficult to say. We hope and we’re always looking.
“We’ve seen this new leadership team is really eager to do business and to make deals.
“They’re on it and if the timing is there and the opportunities are there, I don’t know, I can’t say at this moment. But I’m sure, when they are there, they will go forward.”