Defensive red alert as Slot urges Liverpool to tighten up

Liverpool have conceded too many goals in pre-season and need to adapt defensively when they begin their Premier League title defence, manager Arne Slot said on Aug 10 after his side lost the Community Shield to Crystal Palace.

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LONDON - Liverpool have conceded too many goals in pre-season and need to adapt defensively when they begin their Premier League title defence, manager Arne Slot said on Aug 10 after his side lost the Community Shield to Crystal Palace.

The Reds have splashed the cash this summer, signing playmaker Florian Wirtz, plus forward Hugo Ekitike and attacking full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, though key players have also departed.

After winning the league in Slot's first term with only Federico Chiesa added to the squad left by former boss Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool fans' expectations for the coming season have been buoyed by the uncharacteristic transfer spree.

The new-look side have started brightly, with Liverpool scoring 20 goals in six pre-season friendlies and looking fluent at times against Palace, and Slot saying his side "are able to create more and we are more comfortable on the ball".

The Reds took the lead twice through Frimpong and Ekitike, but were pegged back each time by Jean Philippe-Mateta and Ismaila Sarr as the match ended in a 2-2 draw before Palace prevailed 3-2 on penalties.

Before the match, Slot's men conceded eight times in their last four warmup games, with the Dutch manager expressing concern that their improved attack may have come at a price.