The five key issues Slot has to fix during the Reds' break in domestic football

A CHASTENING week of three defeats has left Arne Slot heading into the international break on his worst run as Reds boss.

- By PAUL GORST

Successive 2-1 Premier League losses at Crystal Palace and Chelsea came either side of a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Liverpool head into the break second in the table, a point behind new leaders Arsenal, and host Manchester United in their next game on October 19.

Here we assesses what can be done to arrest an early-season blip.

SETTLE ON FULLBACKS

Having spent close to £70million on two fullbacks in Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, it’s been a summer of change in those positions.

The departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold, and the increased competition for Andy Robertson and Conor Bradley, means Slot has a new-look fullback team to choose from.

So far, it's fair to say the Dutchman is working out his best combination.

In the battle on the left side of the pitch, it is Kerkez who has nudged ahead of Robertson - the young Hungarian starting all seven fixtures so far.

He is, though, enduring a tough time. Hooked before halftime at Burnley when on a yellow card for a blatant dive, the former Bournemouth man is learning on the job about the huge increase in demand at a club the size of Liverpool.

Subbed off for the long-serving Robertson at Chelsea on Saturday, the Scotland captain helped inject some impetus into proceedings as the visitors improved after the break.