Arne Slot highlighted Liverpool’s unusually poor defending following their penalty shootout defeat in the Community Shield, acknowledging that the Premier League champions must improve defensively going forward.
Reds had taken the lead at Wembley after four minutes via Hugo Ekitike’s strike, but Crystal Palace levelled via Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty kick. New arrival Jeremie Frimpong had then restored Liverpool’s lead, but Ismaila Sarr levelled in stoppage time, sending the contest to dramatic penalty proceedings which were won by Palace 3-2.
Ahead of kick-off in their defense of the Premier League crown at home to Bournemouth tonight, Slot said he had mixed feelings after the match. He raved about how his team’s new forwards performed but bemoaned the team’s lapses at defense. “I have mixed feelings,” revealed Slot to TNT Sports. “If you look at how we attack, it’s better than last year [against Crystal Palace]. But at the other side, two goals were given out, and they must do better defending.”
Liverpool currently only has three center-backs in the first team, which may allow scouting for another central defender until the transfer deadline day, given Jarell Quansah’s recent move to Bayer Leverkusen. Slot and the club’s management may even admit that Marc Guehi, a summer target, started in goal for Palace’s victory at Wembley. Guehi is contracted until next year’s end and speculations around his transfer to Anfield still run rampant, but far from certain is if Liverpool will look at targeting the £45 million-valued center-back until transfer deadline day, come September 1.
With two Liverpudlian newcomer faces, Ekitike and Frimpong, making telling impacts during the game, Slot again reinforced filling in defense. Referencing “The first goal is a great example of our creativity, and that’s something we can build on. But if you’re aiming to win the league, key factor is not giving up goals or opportunities, and we need to get better in that department.”
