Arne Slot recently called for Liverpool to improve in both boxes and defeat at Man City demonstrated that shortcoming
Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool
Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool(Image: Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Sometimes stating the obvious is the only option. And when assessing Liverpool's shortcomings for much of this season, Arne Slot last week turned to the most straightforward explanation.
"For me, it's so simple," said the Reds boss. "In between the boxes we are a very good team.
"If we can improve in both boxes it can be a special season. If we can only improve in one box, then it's going to be probably an acceptable season. If we can't improve in either box, there's going to be a lot of noise."
That Liverpool responded by thumping Qarabag 6-0 to clinch their place in the Champions League round of 16 and then come from behind to beat Newcastle United 4-1 in the Premier League three days later suggests the message is already being absorbed by Slot's players.
And as they prepare to conclude an Anfield triple-header with a blockbusting showdown against Manchester City on Sunday, the reverse fixture back in November at the Etihad perhaps best illustrated the problems highlighted by Slot.
Liverpool were ultimately soundly beaten 3-0 and despite being deservedly defeated, it wouldn't have required much of an improvement in either box for that outcome to have been threatened.
Having escaped after one poor error that led to an early penalty missed by Erling Haaland, more poor defending allowed the Norwegian to open the scoring before a failure to close down Nico Gonzalez led to the deflected second just moments after Virgil van Dijk's contentiously-disallowed header.
At 2-0, Cody Gakpo missed a great opening at the far post and even after Jeremy Doku extended City's lead, Mohamed Salah shot wide when clean through.
The timing of goals changes the rhythm of games, and this was only the second time with Pep Guardiola as City boss that Liverpool had enjoyed greater possession at the Etihad while they also managed to create more big chances. A bit better at both ends and the Reds would have been a lot closer to getting a result.
Stating the obvious, yes. But that doesn't make it any less correct.
While the improvement in the respective penalty areas has been key to the recent successive wins, it has also been evident over a wider period. Following the 3-3 Premier League draw at Leeds United at the start of December, Liverpool have conceded only 10 goals in 13 games while scoring 29. In the 13 games before that, they had shipped 25 and netted only 19.
Nevertheless, City represent a major step up in class with Guardiola's side aware defeat could effectively end title challenge against runaway leaders Arsenal.
If Slot admitted his players were tired at the Etihad in November having come into the game on the back of high-octane wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid during the previous eight days, this time there can be no such excuse in executing their pressing game having had more than a week to prepare.
Indeed, the Reds boss gave his players several days off this week to recover from an arduous January during which they played nine matches.
"I think it's good to have some days off, sometimes you need it," said Alexis Mac Allister. "Especially mentally, I think it's good for the brain to have some days off, spend time with the boys without having too many games.
"It was a really important week where we had time to rest but now the focus is on the game."
Speaking to liverpoolfc.com, Mac Allister added: "We feel like we are in a good moment, in a much better moment than the beginning of the season.
"We are improving as a team – which is the most important thing – and now we're looking forward to this amazing game.
"The manager had a really good meeting where he said that we needed to improve in both boxes. That's what we wanted and I think we showed it in the last two games.
"But we were more aggressive, we pressed a little bit more. That's what we want and that's what we want to get and be consistent on that. I think it's going to be key."