Liverpool have had an excellent summer so far but there are still some areas that need addressing.

The Reds have concluded their pre-season and after six games, fans have been able to learn a lot about what they can be expecting.

Arne Slot will also have a lot to say about the performances of his team, with there being many positives, but also some negatives, to take away.

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Their final friendly saw Liverpool return to action in front of a home crowd at Anfield, with the Reds beating Athletic Bilbao 3-2 in the second game of the night.

This is where the Dutchman fielded his, almost, strongest XI, suggesting this will be close to the team he picks for their Community Shield game against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

However, if that is the case, there was one glaringly obvious problem that Liverpool will need to sort out quickly, if not, Palace could really punish them.



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Liverpool have always been synonymous with their free-flowing, attacking football, for many years now, although their defence has also been pretty strong.

This summer, however, there have been question marks around whether the Reds need a new centre-back or not, and their game against Bilbao not only proved that, but highlighted other issues they have at the back.

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One of these was defending set pieces, with both of the Spanish sides’ goals coming from just that, one from a free-kick and the other via a corner.

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This is something Slot was unhappy with after the game and is certainly something that needs addressing not just before the Premier League returns, but before they play Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Oliver Glasner’s side scored from 16 set-pieces last season, one of the most in the division, showing just how threatening they are when they get the chance.

And, with Liverpool’s frailties in defence evident for all to see, Palace might just be licking their lips ahead of their Community Shield meeting.

One player in particular to look out for will be their captain Marc Guehi, as the transfer saga surrounding him might mean that it is just written in the stars for him to get on the scoresheet against the club pushing to sign him.

Although defending set pieces is not solely reliant on having two recognised centre-backs, of course it would certainly help if they had that.

But with Virgil van Dijk absent through illness, Ibrahima Konate was the only recognised centre-half available across both matches, with the likes of Andy Robertson, Luca Stephenson and Wataru Endo filling in.

With that being said, it is clear that Liverpool need a new defender, maybe even two, especially given either the age or injury issues with their current options.

Guehi would be the perfect choice and perhaps Sunday could be his audition before making the move, but either way, it is an area that needs addressing before it is too late.