Arne Slot has sought to explain why his side dropped deep against Fulham moments before their equaliser, which was centred around their recent vulnerabilities.
Liverpool were moments away from an unlikely win at Craven Cottage after Cody Gakpo scored in the 90+4th minute, only for Harrison Reed to score a goal of the season contender.
There has been a mixed reaction to the unstoppable strike, with some accepting the piece of individual brilliance and others noting how much time and space he had to take the shot.
The goal came from a throw-in situation and Liverpool were set up for a long throw, which has been one of their vulnerabilities, with nine players inside the box compared to Fulham‘s six (pictured below).
After the match, Slot was asked pointedly if his side were ‘guilty’ of dropping too deep, to which he explained: “That is true, but we’ve conceded throw-ins and set-pieces quite a lot this season.
“We have a certain set-up, which the players did, and if the long throw comes in, I think we had the box very well covered.
“Ideally, when they then don’t take it long, we come out earlier and faster, but you have to give credit to that incredible strike as well because what are the odds that a ball from over there goes in? I don’t think a lot.
“I think xG-wise this is not a big chance, but we do concede.
“We made an offensive substitution to win the game with bringing Federico Chiesa in, and then a few times this season we kept it like it was and then we conceded against Leeds (at Elland Road), and then you ask yourself if you should’ve brought in an extra defender.
“The moment we concede the throw-in [we have] Joe Gomez, who is really good in the air for a long throw, but they took it short and we were underloaded over there.
“But again, I don’t think you see this goal being scored a lot. You have to give credit to the player as well.”
The fear of the long throw certainly played on Liverpool’s minds as they sought to preserve three points, with Gomez instantly dropping deep after coming on, but in doing so they forgot to stay alert and put pressure on the ball.
Reed’s eventual strike is one you tip your hat to, but it is not the first time this season Liverpool have let their insecurities override what was in front of them.