Arne Slot conceded he faces a significant challenge to lift Liverpool after Manchester United secured a 2-1 victory at Anfield, their first win there in over nine years. The result marked Liverpool's fourth consecutive defeat, leaving the Premier League champions in a precarious position.
Slot attributed the loss to wastefulness in front of goal and recurring set-piece issues. Cody Gakpo hit the woodwork three times and missed a late header, while Harry Maguire's 84th-minute header proved decisive. The Dutch coach acknowledged the difficulty of ending the losing streak but insisted confidence remains intact due to the chances created.
Slot also questioned referee Michael Oliver's decision not to stop play for a head injury to Alexis Mac Allister, who required four stitches. However, he emphasised that Liverpool's poor finishing was the primary cause of defeat. 'We missed far too many chances to win a game of football,' Slot said.
Ruben Amorim savoured his first back-to-back league wins as United manager, praising his team's spirit and composure. He downplayed any shift in season targets, stating, 'This doesn't change nothing. We are the same team we were 90 minutes ago.'
Maguire labelled the stat of 51 games to achieve consecutive league wins as 'embarrassing' but urged consistency. 'We have set a benchmark. There are a lot of areas we can do more,' he added, looking ahead to the next match against Brighton.
