Arne Slot told two players 'struggling' as Liverpool's defensive woes addressed

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While Liverpool has picked up maximum points from matches with Bournemouth and Newcastle so far this season, Arne Slot's defense has conceded four goals in total and looked shaky from set-pieces at St James' Park.

Ahead of facing Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday, there will need to be an improvement in that department if Liverpool is to win the game.

"It’s not just an issue with the defense, even though it’s evident Milos Kerkez and in particular, Ibrahima Konate, are struggling at present," Reds legend John Aldridge wrote in his Liverpool ECHO column.

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Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez of Liverpool high five as they warm up prior to the Premier League match against Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15 2025.

We’ve already seen signs Kerkez can struggle at the far post perhaps because of his height, but he really has to try to head the ball rather than turn and let Bruno Guimaraes head it in

That’s so poor.

"The second Newcastle goal was even worse, the kind of goal you’d fume about conceding at schoolboy level.

"A big goalkeeper punt forward, Konate turns his head not really want to head the ball, Dan Burn flicks it on and William Osula touches it in

For now, it seems likely that Kerkez and Konate will need to find a way of dealing with aerial duels better themselves, with both players having huge potential to substantially improve