In the central clash of the 21st round of the EPL, Arsenal and Liverpool faced Emirates, and the match ended in a goalless draw - 0:0. After the match, Liverpool manager Arne Slot spoke openly about the match details, the gap between departures, and the team's main shortcoming.
The Dutch specialist emphasized that in the first half, the hosts were more likely to take the initiative. Arsenal had more control of the ball and spent longer time in Liverpool's half. This led to several episodes, mainly through passes over the wings, but according to Slot, they did not reach a level of serious danger.
In the second half, the picture was almost the opposite. This time, Liverpool had more possession of the ball, keeping the opponent "in pressure" around their own penalty area. However, the coach's main confession was this: holding the ball for a long time is not enough - more precise and sharp moments for scoring were lacking.
The slot also noted that this is not the first time: in some games, the team owns the ball, controls it, but at the decisive moment, the last shot or last pass is missing. Despite this, he expressed his satisfaction with playing at this level against Arsenal, who were in good form.
The coach said that in some minutes of the first half, Liverpool demonstrated how well they could operate with the ball. In the second half, possession increased even more, and the opponent "breathed less" on their home field. The Slot noted that the team's best chance came after a combination built with 15-20 passes - which indicates that Liverpool has a culture of ball play.
At the same time, he didn't hide the fact that he was somewhat offended by the loss of victory. Because in such games, one correct decision can resolve everything.
Slot also noted another important point: he says "I've said it 150 times" - Liverpool performs very well against some playing styles and struggles against others. In his opinion, the same situation is visible today: when "Arsenal" played in the lower block (deep defense), it became difficult to create opportunities for "Liverpool." The coach cited this as one of the reasons for the large point difference between the two teams.
However, he also highlighted the positive side: "Liverpool" has demonstrated its ability to play on par with any strong club in England, even in Europe.
In conclusion, Arne Slot accepted this draw in the spirit that "the quality of the game is good, but the result is not enough." "Liverpool" controlled the ball, pressed the opponent, but that last step - scoring chances and shot accuracy - still remains the main problem. Now the task for the team is clear: to turn control into goals.
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