LONDON: Liverpool will likely be without striker Alexander Isak, manager Arne Slot said, when they travel to Brentford on Saturday looking to turn around their three-game Premier League losing streak.
The Sweden striker is “not too bad” but is a “question mark” after sustaining a groin injury in Wednesday’s 5-1 Champions League victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who missed the Frankfurt match with an ankle issue, is also a doubt.
Slot defended forward Mohamed Salah, who finished as the Premier League’s top scorer last season but has become a target for some fan criticism for his recent drop in form.
“Players miss chances and he is a human being. We are not used to him missing chances,” Slot said of Salah, who has three goals in 12 games this season, across all competitions.
“The main thing is that he always has scored goals for Liverpool. The last thing I worry about is Mo scoring goals again. He’s done that his entire life and I expect him to do that again in the coming weeks and months.
“Quite a few changes in the squad means everyone needs to find new connections.”
The Reds are third in the table after losses to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Manchester United, and Slot said his side must adapt to a changing tactical landscape, pointing to a shift in how opponents are approaching games against them.
“I try to tell (the players) that the main, main, main, main difference between this season and last season is the playing styles we face,” Slot told reporters on Friday. “We had to defend 178 long balls in (the first) seven games, and then the United game, we had to defend 59 long balls. That’s different than the first half of last season.”
Slot believes the key to breaking down these low-block, direct teams lies in moments of individual brilliance or set pieces.
“The way to unlock it is a moment of magic, which we had in the first half of (last) season, a lot with Mo (Salah), or a set piece, which we had at Frankfurt as well,” he said. “Two set pieces (goals from corners) unlocked the game for us.”
He also defended his comments about United’s tactics, saying they were meant as a compliment.
“When I tried to explain this in the media, it was actually more of a compliment for the other manager (Ruben Amorim), that he found the right answer to our playing style,” Slot said. “But I think if I’m correct, that wasn’t how people looked at it.”
Jeremie Frimpong, who reaggravated a hamstring injury on Wednesday, will be out for the next couple of games at least, Slot said, while goalkeeper Alisson Becker remains out.
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Isak likely to miss Liverpool’s Premier League match at Brentford
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Isak likely to miss Liverpool’s Premier League match at Brentford
- The Sweden striker is “not too bad” but is a “question mark” after sustaining a groin injury
- “Players miss chances and he is a human being. We are not used to him missing chances,” Slot said of Salah
‘Animals in a zoo’: Swiatek backs Gauff call for more privacy
- Coco Gauff upset when cameras caught her smashing her racquet in the depths of the stadium on Tuesday after she was beaten in the Australian Open quarter-finals
MELBOURNE: World number two Iga Swiatek on Wednesday backed Coco Gauff’s call for more privacy during tournaments, saying players sometimes feel “like animals in the zoo where they are observed even when they poop.”
Third seed Gauff was upset when cameras caught her smashing her racquet in the depths of the stadium on Tuesday after she was beaten in the Australian Open quarter-finals.
The American was trying to find somewhere private to let out her frustrations, rather than doing so on court in front of fans including children.
“I tried to go somewhere where they wouldn’t broadcast it, but obviously they did,” said Gauff.
“So maybe some conversations can be had because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room.”
Swiatek, who was also bundled out of the quarter-finals in Melbourne by Elena Rybakina, said back-stage cameras could be too intrusive.
“The question is, are we tennis players, or are we animals in the zoo where they are observed even when they poop, you know?” she said.
“Okay, that was exaggerating obviously, but it would be nice to have some privacy. It would be nice also to, I don’t know, have your own process and not always be observed.
“It would be nice to have some space where you can do that without the whole world watching.”
Swiatek was caught up in her own off-court drama earlier in the week when she was denied access to an area in Melbourne Park because she was not wearing her accreditation.
It was recorded on camera and the clip did the rounds on social media.
“I don’t think it should be like that because we’re tennis players,” she said.
“We’re meant to be watched on the court and in the press. That’s our job. It’s not our job to be a meme when you forget your accreditation.
“Oh, it’s funny, yeah, for sure. People have something to talk about, but for us I don’t think it’s necessary.”
Swiatek’s straight-sets loss to Rybakina denied her a career Grand Slam of all four majors.
She has won four French Opens, the US Open and Wimbledon, but a title at Melbourne Park remains elusive.
Third seed Gauff was upset when cameras caught her smashing her racquet in the depths of the stadium on Tuesday after she was beaten in the Australian Open quarter-finals.
The American was trying to find somewhere private to let out her frustrations, rather than doing so on court in front of fans including children.
“I tried to go somewhere where they wouldn’t broadcast it, but obviously they did,” said Gauff.
“So maybe some conversations can be had because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room.”
Swiatek, who was also bundled out of the quarter-finals in Melbourne by Elena Rybakina, said back-stage cameras could be too intrusive.
“The question is, are we tennis players, or are we animals in the zoo where they are observed even when they poop, you know?” she said.
“Okay, that was exaggerating obviously, but it would be nice to have some privacy. It would be nice also to, I don’t know, have your own process and not always be observed.
“It would be nice to have some space where you can do that without the whole world watching.”
Swiatek was caught up in her own off-court drama earlier in the week when she was denied access to an area in Melbourne Park because she was not wearing her accreditation.
It was recorded on camera and the clip did the rounds on social media.
“I don’t think it should be like that because we’re tennis players,” she said.
“We’re meant to be watched on the court and in the press. That’s our job. It’s not our job to be a meme when you forget your accreditation.
“Oh, it’s funny, yeah, for sure. People have something to talk about, but for us I don’t think it’s necessary.”
Swiatek’s straight-sets loss to Rybakina denied her a career Grand Slam of all four majors.
She has won four French Opens, the US Open and Wimbledon, but a title at Melbourne Park remains elusive.
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