'If you want to compete': Arne Slot pinpoints key area Liverpool really need to improve after Crystal Palace loss
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It was a difficult day for Liverpool against Crystal Palace as their unbeaten streak came to an end.
The Reds put on a first-half performance to forget against the home side, who played exceptionally to take an initial lead with Ismaila Sarr scoring from a poorly defended corner.
Their hopes in the second half were boosted by a more positive performance, where they created many opportunities but could not bury them until Federico Chiesa produced a piece of magic to get them level late.
However, supporters’ hopes of a draw were dashed in the final few minutes when another set-piece was woefully dealt with by Arne Slot’s side to allow Eddie Nketiah to score a late winner for the Eagles.
This is one of those games fans will want to forget at Selhurst Park, and was almost a similar kind of defeat to Slot’s first loss last season against Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
But Palace have become one of the teams that fans will dread to face after a very recent run of results due to how Oliver Glasner has set up his side against any team, but especially the top six.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
The Dutchman’s undefeated run in the Premier League has now come to an end, which is a shame given the results this season; however, the writing has been on the wall that one of these performances would come back to haunt his side.
Speaking to Sky Sports, following the game, Slot was very frank in his assessment of his team’s display, especially in the first half, believing his side were ‘lucky’ to only be 1-0 down.
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On where his team has to improve to compete and make a strong case for defending their league title, he has pinpointed the set-pieces.
He explained: “If you want to compete you need a very positive balance with set pieces and even more in this league.
It was one of our biggest strengths last season, now we have conceded two against Newcastle and two here.
“But this league is more and more and more about set pieces.”
It has been a thorn in the side of this team since the beginning of the season, but it has now come back to bite them in the worst possible way.
However, it was a deserved win for Palace, who were clearly the better team for the majority of the 90 minutes and will now make Arne Slot look at the drawing board.
One of the issues in the first half came from Florian Wirtz, who admittedly looked more comfortable in the free role, but it meant that there was no out-and-out left winger, only Milos Kerkez filling in the role.
It would have been a better idea, instead of trying to overload the midfield, to have the width given Palace found it easy down the flanks because the full-backs had to push higher.
While it was a positive to see Wirtz look a more natural figure in the team, a Chiesa or Cody Gakpo start may have prevented the issues presented in the opening 45 minutes.
There are two games this week for the Reds to get over the frustrations of this away fixture, but it will be an opportunity to reflect on how to solve the issues that have been plaguing them this season.