Arne Slot’s Final Thoughts on Liverpool’s FA Community Shield Defeat to Crystal Palace | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Community Shield Defeat: Valuable Lessons for Arne Slot’s Squad

Arne Slot believes Liverpool’s recent defeat in the FA Community Shield offers vital lessons for his squad as they prepare for the new Premier League season. Despite a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace at Wembley, the Reds ultimately lost 5-4 in a penalty shootout, a result that has not dampened the manager’s belief in his team’s potential.

New Faces and the Challenge of the Premier League

Liverpool’s starting XI against Crystal Palace saw some fresh talent, including new signings Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Florian Wirtz. Arne Slot, reflecting on the performance, expressed confidence in the impact these new players can have. “I think it’s a good first impression the new players have, especially those who haven’t played in this league last season,” said the manager. His focus on the development of the squad comes ahead of their opening match of the season against AFC Bournemouth at Anfield.

While the result was disappointing, Slot remained focused on the bigger picture. He noted that Crystal Palace, last season’s 12th-placed team, proved a tough opponent, one that forced Liverpool to face difficult challenges. “If these are the number 12 that can make it such a hard time for you, you know what you are going to have to expect if you play here,” Slot said. This match, though not a win, served as an important wake-up call for Liverpool’s players, many of whom are still adjusting to life under their new manager.

Defensive Improvements Needed for Title Defence

One of the key areas for improvement that Slot highlighted is Liverpool’s defensive fragility. With nine goals conceded in six pre-season friendlies, the manager acknowledged that this aspect needs refining if the Reds are to defend their Premier League title. “The main thing is not to concede chances, and if you don’t concede a lot of chances, it’s very difficult for a team to score a lot of goals,” Slot remarked.

While Liverpool’s performance against Athletic Club Bilbao showed promise with only two set-piece goals conceded, the match against Palace was a stark reminder of the need for defensive solidity. “We faced a team that is just bringing every ball in behind the last line and every cross into our box, so that is hard to defend,” Slot explained. Despite the challenge posed by Palace, he felt his team did well up until the equaliser, when a defensive lapse allowed a Palace player to go one-on-one with goalkeeper Alisson Becker. “We opened up completely in the middle, and he could just go one-on-one to Ali,” Slot noted.

Moving Forward with Lessons Learned

Despite the defeat, Liverpool’s manager remains optimistic. “Overall, I don’t think we conceded so many chances that we now have to discuss us being poor in defence,” Slot said. “But if you want to win something, you cannot concede in every game two goals.” As Liverpool begins their title defence against AFC Bournemouth, the team will look to build on the lessons learned from the Community Shield defeat.

The match may have ended in disappointment, but for Slot and his squad, it has provided valuable insights that will help them as they aim to build on their success and retain their Premier League crown.