Following Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Sunderland at Anfield, manager Arne Slot expressed concern that the Premier League champions have lost their “fear factor,” stating that their recent performances are now actively “fuelling the confidence” of opponents.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot conceded his side has lost their “fear factor” after failing to win a third consecutive home game, drawing 1-1 with newly-promoted Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday, according to a report from Agence France-Presse (via NDTV Sports).
The Premier League champions needed a late Nordi Mukiele own goal to salvage a point after Chemsdine Talbi’s deflected strike had given Sunderland the lead, putting them on course for their first win at Anfield since 1983.
Even after the equaliser, the visitors nearly snatched victory when Wilson Isidor saw his shot cleared off the line by Federico Chiesa in stoppage time.
Since winning their opening five league games of the season, Liverpool have won just two of their last nine.
Slot expressed his concern over the team’s struggling form, stating: “Teams that play us now think they can get a result.” He added: “Not only think because that has been shown this season.”
The manager stressed that even in their victories, the team’s struggles have boosted opposition morale: “Even the games we have won, we have fuelled the confidence for other teams that something is possible because the wins we had weren’t easy ones as well.”
Slot also commented on the opposition’s defensive solidity, noting: “I knew before the game Sunderland is a hard team to score against, hard team to create chances against.”
He concluded by calling the goal they conceded unlucky, saying: “It was a deflection and could have gone anywhere but in the period we are in, it went in.”