'There are positives but we have to improve'

BOSS SAYS MISTAKES HAVE LET SIDE DOWN BUT THEY ARE STRIVING FOR MORE OPEN PLAY GOALS AFTER TEAMS LEARN TO PLAY DIFFERENTLY AGAINST SLOT’S MEN

- By IAN DOYLE Chief LFC Writer

HEAVY is the crown. Liverpool may be Premier League leaders in the defence of last season’s hard-earned title, but the knives are being sharpened as they face their toughest examination of a difficult week.

The Reds are at Chelsea this evening aiming to avoid suffering a third successive defeat for the first time under Arne Slot after their Premier League and Champions League hopes were dented at Crystal Palace and Galatasaray respectively.

Injuries, key players losing form and integrating a raft of summer signings have all contributed to inconsistent displays, with Anfield legend Jamie Carragher claiming in midweek Liverpool don’t appear a top team at present.

Slot, though, has dismissed suggestions his team are suffering from multiple problems but admits they aren’t helping that perception by conceding soft goals, a failing that has contributed to just four clean sheets in 21 games.

"In the last two games we've lost, we've lost a few very simple balls and that adds to the thought, ‘wow, are we playing poor?’ as we let ourselves down," said the Liverpool boss.

"We were 2-0 up against Bournemouth (on the opening day), very, very, very good game, much better than we've played in the second half of the season.