Arne Slot bemoaned the ‘same issues coming back’ during Liverpool’s disappointing Premier League defeat to Manchester United.
Reigning champions Liverpool suffered their 11th league loss of the season at Old Trafford on Sunday, losing 3-2 to in-form United.
Slot’s side mounted an impressive comeback, coming back from 2-0 down to level the match at 2-2 as Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo cancelled out early goals from Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.
The momentum appeared to be with Liverpool at that stage but United responded well and sealed the win through Kobbie Mainoo’s 77th-minute strike.
The win not only clinched Champions League football for Manchester United but ensured they will almost certainly finish above Liverpool just 12 months since the Anfield club lifted the Premier League title.
Slot felt the ‘same issues’ were again a problem for his struggling Liverpool side but was keen to highlight United’s ‘strengths’, insisting captain Bruno Fernandes repeatedly ‘hurt’ his team in transitions.
‘We weren’t able to control their strengths,’ Slot said. ‘We were aware of them – set-pieces and counter-attack. You have to know where to lose the ball if you play against United.
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‘They are really strong when they play into the middle. They have so many fast players, Bruno Fernandes to hurt you in transition and that’s exactly what happened with the second goal.
‘That is what happens. We were 2-0 down, came back in the second-half to 2-2 and then we shut off and immediately conceded the goal.
‘We had a lot of ball possession, one of their strengths is also defending. I tried to play a bit more on both sides with the wingers.
‘We went a bit too much for the middle in the first-half where they can counter attack you.
‘I don’t think anyone expected us to lose that game after a 2-2. Or maybe you do after the whole of our season.
‘As I’ve shown so many times this season, when we are playing well or we think we are able to win it, we switch off.
‘The margins are not so big on us being able to win a game like this, I know what we can improve on and we are already working hard on this.
‘The same issues keep coming back which is not a huge surprise as you don’t have long to fix it during the season.’
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