Paul Merson says Liverpool have developed one major flaw since Jurgen Klopp's exit that they must fix quickly
Liverpool have slipped to their first competitive defeat under Arne Slot as Nottingham Forest came away from Anfield with all three points on Saturday. The...
Liverpool have slipped to their first competitive defeat under Arne Slot as Nottingham Forest came away from Anfield with all three points on Saturday.
The new Reds manager’s tenure started superbly, with three consecutive wins, three clean sheets and a three-goal hammering of Manchester United at Old Trafford.
However, Liverpool were below par against Nuno Espirito Santo’s charges, who frustrated the hosts and pounced on the counter to claim the game’s only goal.
Callum Hudson-Odoi grabbed the winner for the visiting Reds in the 72nd minute, cutting in off the left flank and curling a great effort in off the post.
Paul Merson has given his verdict on the game and shared what he feels Slot needs to correct right away in the Liverpool setup.
Paul Merson says Liverpool need to be quicker
Merson, speaking on Sky Sports News (14/9/2024, 5:23pm), said he felt Liverpool were “a bit boring” and “slow”.
He then recalled how quick the Reds were under Jurgen Klopp, and he warned Slot that, unless his players don’t pick up the pace, they won’t even challenge for the title.
“I thought Liverpool were a bit boring,” said Merson. “I thought it was slow.
“When you watch Klopp’s team play, they break and it’s 100 miles an hour, they break so quickly.
“They just seemed to go through the phases. It isn’t quick enough. And unless they quicken this up, I don’t see it. I don’t see them challenging, I don’t.
“They have got to move it quickly. Teams in this Premier League, they get back so quickly.”
READ MORE: How Nottingham Forest fans mocked Liverpool’s ‘incredibly flat’ atmosphere
What else Slot got wrong in Liverpool loss to Forest
Merson made a good point about Liverpool being slower than they were under Klopp, and that’s not the only thing Slot appears to have got wrong.
His game management wasn’t great, and the substitutions he made disrupted the Reds’ rhythm.
On the hour, Slot took off his best player in Alexis Mac Allister, as well as Diogo Jota and Luiz Diaz.
The manager also moved to a back-three late on but it only served to invite more Forest pressure.
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