Slot urges perfect Liverpool to improve
Liverpool is looking to make it six wins from six in all competitions when it faces Everton in the Premier League on Sunday (AEST), but boss Arne Slot still believes there is room for improvement for his team.
The Reds sit top of the Premier League table with maximum points from their first four games, with the Merseyside derby next up at Anfield.
Liverpool also opened its UEFA Champions League campaign with a dramatic victory over Atletico Madrid in midweek, the latest triumph filled with late drama involving the Reds.
Virgil Van Dijk's fine header in second-half stoppage-time was the latest Liverpool rescue act, and there have been some vulnerabilities on show by Slot's side.
Liverpool has surrendered two-goal leads on three occasions, but managed to drag itself over the line to maintain its perfect start across all competitions.
Seven of Liverpool's nine Premier League goals this season have come in the second half of games, with five of those seven coming in the final 10 minutes.
Since the start of last season, the Reds have scored more goals in the final 10 minutes of games than any other side (19), but Slot is not encouraging this theme to continue.
"We have only played five games, so it is difficult to see a long-term pattern," Slot said.
"Against Bournemouth, we were too open, and missed Ryan [Gravenberch] in midfield and they scored two counter goals.
"Atletico didn't score twice on the transition, so you cannot compare. It is not ideal if we have a two-goal lead three times and give it away, so we need to improve.
"As with many other things we need to improve. But the positive thing about it is if we feel the urgency again, we are able to score a goal.
"This is definitely something we talk about. You can run out of steam or energy at the end of the season if you mentally and physically have you have to go all the way to the end all the time in games, so it is never a good idea to keep on doing this but if we need it, I still hope we can do it."
Ahead of taking on rival Everton, midfielder Curtis Jones has returned to the fold for the defending Premier League champion, with Alexander Isak in line to feature in the top-flight for his new team for the first time.
Slot admitted his surprise at Isak's fitness after he played 58 minutes against Atletico in midweek, but he would not be drawn on whether he would start his new striker.
"What I do know is that Alex did feel his body more than ever before after the 60 minutes he played," Slot said. "Let's see how he has recovered today, and then we will think about the line-up."
Asked whether he would consider playing Isak up front alongside fellow summer signing Hugo Ekitike, the Liverpool boss added: "I consider [playing both together] because you consider many things. It depends on how well they are doing.
"If both in best form of their life, you consider it more but it's also clear we have a 4-3-3 structure, playing with three midfielders, but it has also happened quite a lot that we end the game with two number nines.
"Hugo can also play off the left, different to Cody [Gakpo] and Rio [Ngumoha]. That's the good thing about our squad. We have multiple options but first of all they all have to stay fit. If some aren't fit, we might have to use them both in a 4-4-2.
"That all depends on form and how many players are available. Maybe everyone is fit now and I can choose between 21 players, that is quite normal. It's not too much."
