Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been criticized for his side's style of play in recent weeks, but the Dutchman has hit back at his detractors ahead of the clash with Arsenal
Paul Gorst Liverpool FC correspondent
07:55, 08 Jan 2026
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has made an admission
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has made an admission(Image: Justin Setterfield, Getty Images)
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has firmly rejected suggestions he has abandoned attacking football, mounting a robust defence of his side's recent displays.
The Dutchman leads his team to Arsenal on Thursday with the reigning champions trailing the Premier League leaders by 14 points. This comes despite Liverpool enjoying an eight-match unbeaten streak in the top flight, though four of those fixtures have ended in draws.
Following a dreadful spell that saw nine losses in 12 matches across all competitions between September and November, effectively ending their title defence hopes, Slot has prioritized defensive solidity. Yet this approach has prompted criticism that the Reds have become "boring" to watch.
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The manager, however, insists both he and his squad remain fully committed to playing with intensity and attacking intent, arguing that the lack of goals stems from limited options in attack.
With Mo Salah away at AFCON, Alexander Isak sidelined with a long-term injury, and Hugo Ekitike facing a late fitness assessment after missing the Fulham stalemate ahead of Thursday's Emirates clash.
"Packing the team with midfielders is not something I am doing by choice," he said. "I am doing it because certain players are not available and that is something that needs to be really clear because I am a manager now for six or seven years and I have always played with wingers and I have always changed my wingers with new wingers coming in.
"So I always have it 4-3-3 with real wingers and never 5-4-1 or 4-4-2 and I have adjusted it maybe four or five times in my career to bring in a midfielder as a winger because I thought the other team - when I was at different clubs to Liverpool - would have more quality than us so I wanted to make it more solid.
Arne Slot has defended his side
Arne Slot has defended his side(Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)
"But if I am known for one thing then it is attacking football, playing a lot of attackers and bringing a lot of attackers in when we are a goal down. So I find it hard to hear that we play boring football let alone that I am not playing attackers."
Slot went on: "I agree that [steadying the ship] was the first thing that needed to happen but I didn't do that to try and play defensive football. I think that is a misconception. We always pressed the other team as high as we could up the pitch, all over the pitch. And when we have the ball, we try to create as many chances as we can.
"That doesn't really work, that I can see as well, that for all the ball possession we have we don't create enough chances. Everyone can see that as well but I haven't gone to a style of football where I started to play with five at the back or we started to go all defending our own box.
Hugo Ekitike during a Liverpool game
Hugo Ekitike during a Liverpool game(Image: Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
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"Not at all. We didn't change anything and you cannot have so much ball possession if you don't go and press the opposition high up the pitch. I did not change our style but teams have changed their style against us. Our style is not to steady the ship, go back and defend your own box for 90 minutes. Not at all.
"Every single game we press them as high as we can but it's no use pressing the goalkeeper if he kicks every ball long. A lot has been said about the difference between how teams play against us and other teams. And I know why, because it works really well against us to play long balls and in a low block because we struggle to create chances. I would do it.
"Fulham not once, even against Arsenal and Manchester City it was 4-3-3, 4-3-3, and the question is why did they play with five against us? I can answer that question but it would not be smart of me to do so."