Arne Slot admits side must fix 'imbalance' at both ends of pitch

Arne Slot has admitted Liverpool must improve their play at both ends of the pitch if they want to put a stop to recent criticism.

The reigning champions have lacked firepower in front of goal this season, and become leakier at the back as they sit 14 points off leaders Arsenal in the Premier League back in sixth place.

While things look more promising in Europe, with the Reds sitting fourth in the Champions League standings ahead of their final league match against Qarabag on Wednesday, Slot has pinpointed an 'imbalance' between the chances they create from good positions compared to those created against them which is a cause for concern.

"It's going to be really difficult to quieten the outside noise with the position we are in," Slot said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game at Anfield.

"Every loss or disappointing result will start the noise coming back again.

"That's what you can expect when we have moments with so many losses. It's impossible to shut out the noise if you are not competing for the league.

"For me, it's so simple. In between the boxes we are a very good team. Also, against Bournemouth, so many times we were in positions I want my players to be in.

"But killing those moments. Bringing it from promising positions to creating chances. If we have the chances, then be clinical and finish it off. That is something we have to improve.

"In the other box, other teams arrive there three or four times a game. Too many times when they arrive there it leads to chances or goals. There is a complete imbalance in the amount of times we arrive in the box and the times other teams arrive there. But there isn't an inbalance in the number of goals that are being scored. That's a really bad cocktail.

"If we can improve in both boxes it can be a special season. If we can only improve in one box, then it's going to be probably an acceptable season. If we can't improve in either box, there's going to be a lot of noise."

Slot: Reality is Liverpool have not won much in last three years

While Slot did understand the need for Liverpool to be competing at the top, he defended their current struggles by saying that the reality is that the club have not dominated in major competitions in recent years.

"When you are Liverpool, the aim is to win the league. But we have only done this twice in the last 30 years," he added.

"We want to be competitive in every single competition we are in but the reality is in the last three years we have won one League Cup and one Premier League title.

"A lot has been said about the £450m we've spent and not about the £300m we've brought in. So, I have my opinion about what is acceptable, but I'm not going to share that."