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Maintain composure. That proved to be the Zen-like counsel delivered by Virgil van Dijk and Curtis Jones midweek as the Merseyside club digested back-to-back defeats for the second occasion under their head coach.

The manager was calm and positive during his press conference, interspersing numerous voluntary points that the side he was supporting from rare criticism are top of the Premier League. Anew. But underneath the reassuring words and positive standings, there are unquestionable concerns with the club's performance that, per the coach in his own words, extend further than the first ten matches of the term.

We had been delighted claiming the championship,” said Slot. “But we didn't close our vision for the second part of the campaign to the occasions when we required a dead-ball situation [to win].”

The Premier League champions have not finding it difficult to generate opportunities from live action or to turn extended periods with the ball into decisive triumphs since August, their manager asserted. They were facing difficulties to do each starting in the middle of last season, after other teams adapted their tactics to restrict Liverpool, and are still searching for solutions.

Statistical Evidence

Data corroborate Slot. In the first 19 league games of his debut season, the team registered forty-seven strikes with 85.1% (85.1%) originating from live action. During the last 19 league games, Liverpool achieved 39 goals, of which twenty-seven (just over two-thirds) were from live action. The decline was addressed this term, admittedly in limited games, with 10 of Liverpool's 12 league goals originating from open play (eighty-three point three percent).

• Initial nineteen matches: eighty-five point one percent of goals from open play
• Final 19 games: sixty-nine point two percent of goals from open play
• Current season: eighty-three point three percent of goals from open play

But the team's performances in the current campaign, especially the defeats at Palace and in Turkey in the span of a few days, cannot be attributed to a drop in set-piece prowess only. Moreover, their run of seven victories ahead of visiting Selhurst Park was regularly accompanied by the qualification that the side secured victory late and/or despite an inconsistent showing.

Squad Issues

Wirtz is still adjusting to the ferocity of the the top flight and is a big-money acquisition that the manager is continuing to accommodate to maximum effect. Liverpool's recent defensive signings, the Dutch defender and the other full-back, were strongly supported by their manager prior to the loss in Turkey but are not yet at the performance of the players they replaced.

The forward is not match sharp following the summer on strike at his former club, and Ibrahima Konaté's performances has dipped significantly. The list continues. Just the French attacker, Van Dijk, Alisson, who will sit out Saturday's trip to the Blues with a hamstring injury, the Hungarian midfielder and Ryan Gravenberch have performed at a good level this term.

Key Unavailable player

The Reds urgently require Alexis Mac Allister to regain full fitness and his impact over their tempo, control and penetration. The Argentina international was omitted of the final two games of the prior term to start his return from a nagging muscle issue and come back fit for pre-season. At least, that was the aim. The midfielder's rehabilitation proved more protracted than expected, the preparation period was frequently interrupted as a outcome, and a key component in Slot's system has been unable to finish an entire game for his team after the narrow victory at the Foxes on April 20.

“You say he is behind,” Slot said. “In Holland we say he walks behind the music.” Liverpool will be a changed outfit once the Argentine is orchestrating midfield alongside his Dutch teammate anew.

Looking Ahead

The manager has praised the advantages of adaptability in his overhauled lineup, with the recent acquisitions Wirtz, the Frenchman, Isak and Frimpong capable of perform in a multiple roles, but a team in transition could do with increased regularity in team picks to hasten the transition.

It's not that we alter our methods but I observe opponents adopting a lot of tactics in a changed manner when facing us,” he stated. “Jürgen Klopp left me a lot of benefits but one of the gifts he provided was finishing in the top three the prior campaign and fifth the year before that.”

The Reds have enough world-class talent to fix their inconsistent performances, as Jones said recently, but Slot acknowledges the remedy is more complicated than relying on the new signing and the striker to find their form. Chelsea's ground would be a good place to commence, however.

It's a mix,” he remarked. “How do we locate our wide players? Is our service adequate regularly and in threatening areas {like we did|as we managed|similar