Arne Slott discusses the problems facing Liverpool’s team during their poor run of form at Anfield, explaining that Alexander Isak’s problems are representative of the team.
Liverpool manager Arne Slott has admitted that it has been difficult to keep Alexander Isak fit after a poor pre-season. The Dutchman believes similar issues across the squad are contributing to the recent difficulties at Anfield.
The Reds are on a four-game losing streak in the Premier League, but the task will not be easy as summer signings Isak, Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Frimpong are injured, while Alisson Becker, Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenbirch have also had problems in recent weeks. Liverpool sit seventh in the top flight, seven points behind leaders Arsenal, who are praised for the depth at Mikel Arteta’s disposal.
Despite not having as convincing a start as his debut season, Slott remains pleased with the composition and depth of his squad. The former Feyenoord manager admitted that he was struggling to keep some players fit after not having a full pre-season.
Isak was perhaps the most notable of those players, going on strike to force a transfer from Newcastle. The Swede did not take part in first-team training after being left out of the Magpies’ pre-season tour.
“I’m happy with the team and our quality and confident in our strategy and direction,” Slott said at a press conference ahead of the game against Aston Villa. “But that’s the problem. Not all of them have had a proper preseason and they’re not all injured. So when three-quarters get injured, you’re back to 15 or 16. I’m sure 20 is good enough, but we’re struggling to keep them healthy for obvious reasons.”
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“Alex came to us on September 1st, but it has become difficult to get them fit. So if some players are absent, it will be the same players. Maybe last season we were lucky, but now we are unlucky? But we have had a few away games with a few days’ rest in between. Before people say, there are no excuses…”
“We have to manage the situation. There are three games in seven or eight days, so the depth of the team is not a factor, rather it’s just injuries and player availability.”
Slott explained that he was forced into a position to utilize Isak’s services despite the issues surrounding his suitability for the match. And it’s not just there that such dilemmas exist.
“We will deal with the situation as it is. Alex, let me give you an example, the preseason was during the season. People ask why he is playing? Otherwise you have to play Hugo every game.”
“Both strikers, Owen Hargreaves showed us, last season they both played 34 games, here we have 60, so we need Alex to play as many games as possible. And it was the same for him and a few others, Frimpong, Bradley. If one is out, one has to play more. So Szoboszlai has to play more at right-back.”
“That’s not an excuse, because it’s the same with every team, but it was a little different than last season. Last season, everyone had at least one year of PL experience and stayed healthy. Now some players have to play more than they would like, but that’s the way it is.”
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