Slot Admits Liverpool Must Fix Defense to Retain Title

Arsenal Arne Slot makes Liverpool Premier League title claim ahead of Arsenal and Man City battle Liverpool lost on penalties to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield footballlondon Bookmark Share Comments Arsenal By Sam Truelove Content Editor 20:00, 10 AUG 2025 Bookmark Liverpool boss Arne Slot (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Sign up to the free Arsenal newsletter so you don't miss the latest Gunners news, straight to your inbox More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Sign up to the free Arsenal newsletter so you don't miss the latest Gunners news, straight to your inbox Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has admitted his side need to tighten up defensively if they are to retain the Premier League title. Despite twice taking the lead in the Community Shield, sloppy defensive play through the middle allowed Crystal Palace to equalise both times and that led to penalties, which the Eagles won 3-2. Questions have already been raised over whether Slot needs to bring in another centre-back – they have been linked with Palace’s Marc Guehi, who is in the final year of his contract – as the sale of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen has left him with just three in that position with Joe Gomez injured. Liverpool have not kept a clean sheet in pre-season, conceding 10 times in five senior games – including four against AC Milan – and Slot knows it is an area that needs attention. Liverpool kick-off their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth next Friday and will battle it out with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City once again for the title. “It’s a bit mixed feelings. If you look at our attacking play against a team who is so compact, it is maybe a bit better than last season,” Slot told TNT Sports. This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Sky Sports deal Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more. Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more. £35 Sky Get Sky Sports here “But on the other hand we conceded two goals, which we did against Bilbao and two more against Milan and that’s something we need to do better. I think we are able to create more now but we are conceding more at the moment and if you want to compete to win the league, one of the things is not to concede chances, let alone goals.” Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson enjoyed his moment in the spotlight, saving two penalties in the shootout. Liverpool’s new signings Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong both scored but were pegged back each time by goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr. Mohamed Salah missed his second penalty in a week as one of three failures from the spot in the shootout and Justin Devenny scored Palace’s fifth. “I love the big moments,” Henderson said. “I love being in that pressure moment. The homework we did on penalties was great. “They have unbelievable players and have a great team, but two trophies in three months is incredible. These emotions are fantastic. With them 2-1 up you think we are out the game. The manager said we’d get chances and we did.” KICK OFF - Arsenal F.C. pre-season guide 2025/26 The countdown is on to the 2025/26 Premier League campaign - and our pre-season guide is the ideal way to prepare for the action ahead. As well as in-depth analysis and opinion on your club, we turn the spotlight on every team battling for top-flight glory - or simply survival in the toughest league in the world! Also full fixtures guide so you don't miss a game in what is set to be a thrilling season. Get your copy NOW Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow Football London Facebook X (Twitter) Comment More On Arne Slot Premier League title race

Liverpool boss Arne Slot (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has admitted his side need to tighten up defensively if they are to retain the Premier League title.

Despite twice taking the lead in the Community Shield, sloppy defensive play through the middle allowed Crystal Palace to equalise both times and that led to penalties, which the Eagles won 3-2.

Questions have already been raised over whether Slot needs to bring in another centre-back – they have been linked with Palace’s Marc Guehi, who is in the final year of his contract – as the sale of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen has left him with just three in that position with Joe Gomez injured.

Liverpool have not kept a clean sheet in pre-season, conceding 10 times in five senior games – including four against AC Milan – and Slot knows it is an area that needs attention. Liverpool kick-off their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth next Friday and will battle it out with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City once again for the title.

“It’s a bit mixed feelings. If you look at our attacking play against a team who is so compact, it is maybe a bit better than last season,” Slot told TNT Sports.

“But on the other hand we conceded two goals, which we did against Bilbao and two more against Milan and that’s something we need to do better. I think we are able to create more now but we are conceding more at the moment and if you want to compete to win the league, one of the things is not to concede chances, let alone goals.”

Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson enjoyed his moment in the spotlight, saving two penalties in the shootout. Liverpool’s new signings Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong both scored but were pegged back each time by goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr.

Mohamed Salah missed his second penalty in a week as one of three failures from the spot in the shootout and Justin Devenny scored Palace’s fifth. “I love the big moments,” Henderson said. “I love being in that pressure moment. The homework we did on penalties was great.

“They have unbelievable players and have a great team, but two trophies in three months is incredible. These emotions are fantastic. With them 2-1 up you think we are out the game. The manager said we’d get chances and we did.”