Arne Slott has admitted that Liverpool need to improve their play at both ends of the pitch if they want to put an end to recent criticism.
The reigning champions have lacked firepower in front of goal this season, and are in sixth place in the Premier League, 14 points behind leaders Arsenal, making it easy for them to attack at the back.
Things are looking more promising in Europe, with the Reds sitting fourth in the Champions League table ahead of Wednesday’s final league game against Qarabag, but Slott said the “imbalance” between the chances created from good positions and those created against the Reds was a cause for concern.
“It’s going to be really difficult to silence the noise outside in the position we’re in,” Slott said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game at Anfield.
“Every time we lose or have a disappointing result, the noise comes back.
“That’s to be expected at a moment when you’ve lost so many games, it’s impossible to shut out the noise unless you’re playing in the league.
Arne Slott admitted Liverpool weren’t creative enough in attack when they got into good positions
“For me it’s very simple. Between the boxes we are a very good team and against Bournemouth we were in the positions you want players to be in many times.
“But they kill those moments. They even create chances from promising positions. When they have a chance, they take it on the fly and finish it off. That’s something we have to improve on.”
“In the other box, the other team arrives three or four times a game. Too many times they arrive there leads to chances and goals. There is a complete imbalance in the number of times we arrive in the box and the number of times the other team arrives there. But there is no imbalance in the number of goals scored. It’s a really bad cocktail.”
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After Liverpool lost 3-2 to Bournemouth, Virgil van Dijk was responsible for Bournemouth’s opening goal.
“If we can improve in both boxes, we could have a special season. If we can improve in just one box, we’ll probably have an acceptable season. If we can’t improve in either box, there’s going to be a lot of noise.”
Carragher: ‘Without Champions League football, Slott’s job is at risk’
Jamie Carragher said on Monday Night Football:
“If we won the league last season and spent as much money as Liverpool, but we don’t qualify for the Champions League, I don’t think we have any legs to stand on.
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Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool manager Arn Slott could qualify or go bankrupt if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
“What really worries me about Liverpool in terms of Champions League qualification is the three big things that stand out in the current Premier League: set-pieces, counter-attacking football and playing against low blocks.
“Liverpool can’t deal with any of them. What we’re looking at is a Premier League team that’s not fit for the Premier League.”
“When you start looking at Manchester United and Chelsea’s performance in recent weeks, you start to see that Liverpool could actually finish outside of the Champions League. I’m really worried about them.”
“When you start worrying about qualifying for the Champions League next season, that’s when you think there’s a completely different proposition when you’re talking about the manager’s job. That’s completely different for me.”
“If you’re talking about not winning the league, not being able to challenge for the league, it’s collective responsibility and Liverpool can’t win the league every year.
“Going from being champions to not being in the Champions League, spending £450m and having the highest wage bill in the Premier League, which is usually the biggest factor in determining where you sit in the league, I think you have serious doubts.”
Slots: The reality is Liverpool haven’t won much in the last three years.
While Slott understands Liverpool’s need to compete at the top, he defended their current struggles, saying the reality is that the club has not dominated in major competitions in recent years.
“When you’re at Liverpool your goal is to win the league, but we’ve only achieved that twice in the last 30 years,” he added.
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Gary Neville believes Liverpool have fallen short offensively and defensively and has warned they will lose the credibility they earned last season if they do not improve.
“We want to be competitive in every competition we play in, but the reality is we have won one League Cup and one Premier League title in the last three years.
“A lot has been said about the £450m we spent, not the £300m we put in. So I have my own opinion about what is acceptable, but I’m not going to share it.”
