Arne Slot hits out at ‘one player’ after late Palace winner
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After Liverpool's late 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace and subsequent penalty shootout defeat in the Community Shield, Liverpool manager Arne Slot voiced criticism aimed at one player following the loss. Slot expressed "mixed feelings" about the match, highlighting concerns over the team's defensive performance, despite their attacking strengths during the game.
The match at Wembley saw new Liverpool signings Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong both score on a hot day in London. Crystal Palace fought back with goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr, forcing the match to penalties. Liverpool suffered with key players Mohamed Salah, Alexis Mac Allister, and Harvey Elliot all missing their spot-kicks. Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson was the hero, saving shots from Mac Allister and Elliot to seal victory for the Eagles.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Slot did not hold back on his frustration with the defensive lapses that led to conceding goals. He acknowledged Liverpool looked strong in attack but felt the team had been conceding more goals lately, indicating a worrying trend that needs addressing.
The defeat was Liverpool’s setback following a strong start to the season, given recent concerns about their performances against strong teams like Crystal Palace, who were on a 17-match unbeaten streak entering the fixture. Slot's comments come amid growing awareness that Liverpool must improve defensively to maintain competitiveness across all competitions.
Slot's criticism underscores Liverpool's need to tighten their defense as they aim to build on their early Premier League success and avoid costly mistakes in critical moments such as penalty shootouts.
PP