Liverpool boss Arne Slot (Image: PA)
Liverpool boss Arne Slot (Image: PA)
Liverpool boss Arne Slot expects another difficult game against Burnley after their last-gasp victory at Turf Moor earlier in the season.
It took the Reds until the 95th minute to find a breakthrough in September when Mo Salah slotted home from the penalty spot after Hannibal was judged to have handled in the box.
Slot’s men are unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions but the manager insists there is still room for improvement.
“We just have to look at the game we played against them. It was the 95th minute when we at last got a penalty we deserved for a handball,” he told BBC Sport. “But you never know if you would get it.
"Because a few weeks later, we had another referee or maybe it was the same referee, a clear handball against Manchester United and he didn't think that was a penalty. So you never know what you get with referee decisions.
“It was a game we had multiple chances before we got that penalty but they made it really hard that day. They've made it really hard for other teams since as well.
“So we will be ready, looking forward to it, another home game where we want to show what we can do from all the ball possession. We have worked a lot on that and I am waiting for the moment things really click.
“The moment we generate more chances, we have to be a bit more open as well and in a certain periods this season we have conceded a lot of counter-attacks, so we have to find the ideal balance to create more and not concede many."
Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are all sidelined with injuries. Mo Salah is due back from the Africa Cup of Nations after Egypt’s third place play-off on Saturday, which means he will not be involved against the Clarets.
“We have a few injuries. We've got Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley out for the season and Alexander Isak out for multiple months. But for the rest, everyone is available,” Slot confirmed.
“(Salah will return) next week, we are in talks with him and what is expected of him over there and over here. He has an important game on Saturday and then he will be back with us.”
The season so far hasn’t panned out how Liverpool would have hoped after clinching the title last term, and Slot is searching for a moment to really “kickstart” things.
"In the last 11 games we have hardly conceded chances, but in the period before that we created lots but conceded more chances,” he explained.
“Those were more open games where maybe people look back and want those now, but the results weren't as we wanted them to be.
"We have to find that balance, and we will because I can see the players are growing, they find belief and getting better and fitter. We are waiting for a moment when we can kickstart our season even more than we have."