Arne Slot says decision-making could have been better after loss against Chelsea

Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, believes a 2-1 loss against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday was down to fine margins. The Reds’ head coach feels the decision-making of his players could have been better. 

Moises Caicedo scored the opening goal for the Blues however, the visitors equalized as Cody Gakpo found the back of the net in the 63rd minute. But substitute Estêvão scored a winner for the hosts in the 95th minute to seal all three points.

The defending champions have lost their last three matches, losing 2-1 against Crystal Palace and then suffering a 1-0 loss against Galatasaray in the Champions League, which is Slot’s worst run as Liverpool manager.

“Last season we lost against Chelsea as well,” Slot said. “Stamford Bridge is always difficult. We were very close to a result. Small margins. As I said at Galatasaray, we had a one-vs.-one then they get a penalty. We concede in extra, extra time against Palace. And then today they score a goal that could go at either end.”

“After we scored 1-1 it went our way and I think I was waiting for us to score the second. Decision-making could’ve been better, last 10-15 minutes was end-to-end. We arrived in their 18-yard box with [Andy] Robertson, we couldn’t control the ball but again it’s fine margins like it’s been for as long as I’ve been here.

“Last week, same as this week two difficult away games, the fine margins haven’t been in our favour.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool will sweat over the fitness of defender Ibrahima Konaté, who was substituted in the second half.

Slot said: “I don’t know if it is a big injury, but what I do know is he limped a little bit and when I asked him he said he felt his quad a little bit.

“Then, for me, all alarm bells go off because in another sprint you never know if that is going to go good.

“It was also already a substitution I had in mind, maybe for a few minutes or a little bit later, because the right centre-back had a lot of ball possession and we needed to create from that position. We all know Ryan [Gravenberch] is quite good in that.

“It might be OK that he went off early enough but it was clear I had to take him off because he was limping.”

Liverpool will next take on Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.