Liverpool: Arne Slot admits his side have 'no answer' to opponents using long balls and low blocks following Brentford defeat

Arne Slot has admitted Liverpool are yet to find an answer for teams utilising long balls and low blocks following the 3-2 defeat to Brentford.

Slot spoke openly about opponents sitting deep and going direct in the build-up to the fixture at the Gtech Community Stadium, which ended in a fourth consecutive defeat for the Reds in the Premier League, and his side were punished via the same avenues on Saturday evening.

Dango Ouattara's opener arrived from a Michael Kayode long throw in the first half, a threat Slot admitted Liverpool prepared for in detail during Friday's training session, with Brentford also playing 62 long passes on the evening, their highest tally of the season so far.

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"Quite a few things," Slot said in his post-match press conference when asked what was the cause for Liverpool's current struggles.

"It is definitely that teams have a certain playing style against us; it is a very good strategy to play. We have not found an answer yet.

"Going 1-0 down does not help after five minutes. We are still, even today, when we don't play well, able to score two goals.

"But you cannot compete, which we don't do at the moment, because we concede too many goals. That is not only the defence you do it with 11 players together."

Slot also admitted that Liverpool's business in the summer transfer window, which saw them spend a record-breaking £446m on six new signings, has played a part in their slow start to the campaign, with the club now in sixth place.

He added: "It has something to do with when you change a lot in the summer. I did not expect it to go with four losses in a row."

Slot: We prepared for long throw-ins

Slot said Liverpool's entire training session on Friday was focused on preparing for Brentford's long throw-ins, but their hard work was quickly undone when Brentford opened the scoring from Kayode's long throw just five minutes in.

Asked if they spent all week preparing for those exact situations, Slot said: "Yeah, it's the only thing we did yesterday on the training pitch, preparing for that and the meeting today."

The Liverpool boss also admitted he was wary of their threat on the counter-attack, which is how Kevin Schade doubled their lead just before the half-time after racing through on goal to slot his effort past Giorgi Mamardashvilli.

"That's not the only thing we prepared them for because Brentford are also known for very good set-pieces," he continued.

"They are also known for a fantastic counter-attack and that was their second goal and I think at this moment in time, that's why it should never be seen as an excuse."

Fundamental problems now creeping into Liverpool's game, says Slot

Despite referencing throw-ins as part of the problem, Slot was quick to point out that it was not the only reason they walked away empty-handed on the evening.

While their susceptibility in the air and openness in transitions will take most of the spotlight, Liverpool also got the fundamentals wrong at the Gtech.

"Today, I don't think we did the basics right," Slot said. "Too many duels were lost, too many second balls weren't won.

"That was the first time in the last four games. That was the main thing that we have to improve.

"As always, what I have to do is look at what we did wrong and what we did well. Today, I have a clear idea of what we have to improve. That has not always been the same situation in the other games.

"Every time a different problem has cost us the game."

Sky Sports' David Richardson described it as being "outfought and outclassed" from the stands in west London - it seems like Slot might agree.

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