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Maintain composure. This was the tranquil counsel provided by Liverpool's captain and the young midfielder recently as Liverpool reflected on successive setbacks for the second time under their head coach.

The manager stayed calm and upbeat in his latest address, sprinkling multiple voluntary reminders that the side he was backing from uncommon scrutiny are top of the the league. Once more. Yet behind the calming messages and favorable league table, there are indisputable concerns with the club's form that, according to Slot himself, go beyond than the opening ten fixtures of the season.

We felt delighted securing the championship,” said the head coach. “But we didn’t shut our eyes for the final stages of the campaign to the frequency with which we required a dead-ball situation [to win].”

Last season's title winners haven't having trouble to generate opportunities from live action or to turn dominant possession into convincing victories since August, their boss insisted. Liverpool have actually been facing difficulties to do each starting in the second half of last season, when opponents adjusted their game plans to stifle Liverpool, and are yet to find solutions.

Statistical Backing

Figures back up Slot. During the initial 19 league games of his debut season, the team notched forty-seven strikes with 85.1% (85.1%) resulting from general play. Over the final 19 league games, the Reds managed thirty-nine strikes, of which twenty-seven (just over two-thirds) were from general play. The reduction was improved this season, over a small sample size, with ten of the team's 12 top-flight strikes originating from open play (eighty-three point three percent).

• Opening phase: eighty-five point one percent of goals from open play
• Closing phase: 69.2% of goals from open play
• Present campaign: eighty-three point three percent of goals from open play

However the team's showings this season, notably the defeats at Palace and in Istanbul in the span of a few days, should not be linked solely to a drop in set-piece prowess only. Moreover, their run of seven victories before traveling to their London rivals was often accompanied by the qualification that they scored decisive goals in the closing stages and/or regardless of an patchy display.

Squad Issues

The German playmaker is taking time to settle to the pace of the the top flight and is a expensive signing that the coach is continuing to fit in to full potential. Their new full-backs, one new full-back and Milos Kerkez, were strongly supported by their head coach ahead of the Galatasaray defeat but are still not at the levels of the players they replaced.

The forward is lacking fitness after spending the off-season on strike at Newcastle, and the French defender's form has dipped significantly. The list extends. Solely the French attacker, Van Dijk, Alisson, who will miss Saturday's trip to Stamford Bridge with a hamstring injury, the Hungarian midfielder and the engine-room player have performed consistently well in the current campaign.

Vital Unavailable player

Liverpool urgently require the creative force to restore optimal condition and his contribution over their rhythm, control and forward impetus. The South American star was omitted of the last two matches of last season to commence his recovery from a persistent physical problem and return fit for pre-season. That was, that was the aim. Mac Allister's recovery process proved more protracted than anticipated, the warm-up matches was repeatedly affected as a consequence, and a key component in Slot's system has been unable to finish a full match for his team after the narrow victory at Leicester on 20 April.

“People claim he is racing to catch up,” he commented. “Where I'm from we say he is not in rhythm.” Liverpool will be a more formidable side when Mac Allister is directing the center of the park alongside the other midfielder anew.

Looking Ahead

The head coach has praised the benefits of versatility in his revamped team, with the new signings Wirtz, Ekitiké, Isak and the defender capable of play in a variety of positions, but a club in flux could do with increased regularity in lineup choices to hasten the integration.

It's not that we change our approach but I observe teams employing a lot of tactics unlike before when facing us,” he explained. “Jürgen Klopp left me a lot of gifts but one of the gifts he gave me was ending up in the top three the prior campaign and in fifth position the year before that.”

Liverpool have enough top-tier stars to correct their patchy displays, as the midfielder said this week, but the manager concedes the answer is trickier than waiting for Wirtz and the striker to hit their stride. Stamford Bridge would be a perfect setting to start, though.

There are multiple factors,” he stated. “How do we locate our wide players? Do we find them frequently and in dangerous positions {like we did|as we managed|similar