Late objectives or in any other case, the brutal fact is that Liverpool have been a pale shadow of the aspect the cruised to the Premier League final season because the Group Defend loss to Crystal Palace, the tables being turned on them dramatically within the final week as the issues which have been in proof since that Wembley defeat have been uncovered.
Liverpool have seemed unbalanced after an inflow of almost £450m price of recent signings, the introduction of £116m Florian Wirtz into a job behind the strikers – whether or not it was £70m Hugo Ekitike or £125m Alexander Isak – leaving them extra uncovered by the centre.
The arrival of two new full-backs, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, with instinctive attacking tendencies has additionally left Liverpool extra susceptible on the counter.
Slot gave Liverpool a extra acquainted take a look at Chelsea by dropping Wirtz to revive the title-winning midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alex Mac Allister.
Liverpool weren't fairly as open, though Szoboszlai was moved to right-back when Conor Bradley was changed at half-time, however for all Slot's constructive messages this was one other largely flat show. They nonetheless nearly acquired some extent by Cody Gakpo's equaliser after Moises Caicedo's magnificent early opener for Chelsea.
This was till Estevao intervened because the biters of early within the season have been painfully bitten again.
“I believed Chelsea simply wished it just a little bit extra,” mentioned ex-England ahead Wayne Rooney, who's a pundit on Saturday's Match of the Day. “They confirmed extra chunk and willpower in how they performed. It wasn't the Liverpool we have been used to watching and Chelsea undoubtedly deserved the three factors.
“I do know that is now back-to-back Premier League video games the place Liverpool have misplaced due to late objectives however that is simply the best way it may well go. They clearly began the season rather well, scoring late objectives themselves, however have now had a nasty spell, dropping thrice within the house of per week, and it may be troublesome to get out of that kind of droop.”
Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin instructed BBC 5 Reside Sport that Liverpool's standing as champions means they're firmly within the sights of their rivals.
“Arne Slot gained the league in his first season and he is needed to change issues up a bit,” mentioned Nevin.
“Bear in mind, he mentioned himself, Liverpool have this huge, gigantic goal on their again now, everybody desires to beat them. That is the issue you've got acquired when you're the champions. That is why it is so laborious to retain the title.”
