Arne Slot attributed Liverpool’s late collapse against Fulham to being “underloaded” defensively following a tactical substitution intended to stop a long throw-in that the hosts ultimately played short.
Arne Slot has defended his decision to bring on Joe Gomez during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at Fulham, despite the Reds conceding an equalizer moments later.
After Cody Gakpo’s 94th-minute goal seemed to have secured the win, Slot introduced Gomez for Gakpo to protect the lead.
However, Harrison Reed’s stunning 35-yard strike in the 97th minute forced Liverpool to settle for a point at Craven Cottage, marking their tenth game without a win this season.
The Liverpool head coach explained that the substitution was intended to counter a potential long throw-in, utilizing Gomez’s aerial strength.
Instead, Fulham played the ball short, catching the defense off guard. Slot admitted, “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.”
He added that the team failed to press Reed quickly enough.
The draw further stalls Liverpool’s “insipid” Premier League title defense, leaving them struggling for consistency.
Slot expressed frustration over the team’s recurring habit of conceding unlikely goals late in matches.
“The second thing we see a lot is that that the other team scores a goal you don’t expect in extra time, so this is then a surprise,” Slot remarked, noting that Reed’s goal was an exceptional strike with very low statistical probability.