Arne Slot warns Liverpool over damaging form before Galatasaray tie
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has warned his squad about their damaging recent form as they prepare to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Reds welcome the Turkish giants to Anfield following a deeply frustrating 1-1 Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
That result leaves the Merseyside club two points adrift of Aston Villa in the race for domestic top-four qualification.
Recent struggles have visibly affected the stadium atmosphere, with some supporters booing the team and leaving early during the weekend fixture.
Slot frustrated by recurring flaws
The Dutch tactician highlighted his side’s inability to convert chances and maintain defensive solidity as major concerns.
Despite regularly generating a higher expected goals (xG) tally than their opponents, the six-time European champions have repeatedly dropped vital points.
“Of course it is damaging but how many times has this been damaging for us this season?”
“We don’t help ourselves at all. It is so many times this season we have created much more xG or chances than the amount of goals we score.”
Slot acknowledged that a severe lack of clean sheets is hindering their ambitions to climb the Premier League table.
“Usually in the Premier League you see a lot of teams outperforming their xG but that definitely is not what we are doing.”
Szoboszlai reveals squad crisis talks
The pressure of consecutive disappointing displays has prompted urgent internal discussions among the playing staff.
Hungarian international Dominik Szoboszlai confirmed that the squad held meetings to address their deteriorating form.
“We had already a couple of weeks ago a talk between each other saying: ‘Guys we don’t have such a lot of time to do this right so we have to wake up’.”
The 24-year-old midfielder also expressed severe disappointment with the lack of support from the stands during difficult moments.
Trailing from the first leg of their round of 16 tie, the former RB Leipzig playmaker urged supporters to remain behind the team against Galatasaray.
“I don’t think it helps us also that after 80 minutes people start to go home, it doesn’t help us at all.”
“Stick with us.”
