Excitement at Anfield
The Premier League season kicks off tonight with Liverpool hosting Bournemouth at Anfield. As the defending champions, Liverpool are eager to start the season on a strong note, especially after a successful campaign under head coach Arne Slot. Fans are excited to witness the new-look squad as they aim to defend their title.
New Faces and a Shifting Squad
This season brings significant changes to the Liverpool roster. Notable absences include Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz, and Darwin Nunez, which leave some crucial questions regarding the team’s defensive capabilities. However, new signings such as Florian Wirtz, Huge Ekitike, and Jeremie Frimpong are set to make their league debuts, bringing fresh talent into the squad. The integration of these players will be pivotal in how Liverpool performs this season.
Defensive Concerns and Offensive Potential
Although Liverpool has made exciting additions, their defense has shown vulnerability, as evident from the two goals conceded against Crystal Palace during the community shield. The hope is that increased offensive power, alongside the ever-reliable Mo Salah, will provide the necessary firepower for a winning outcome. Meanwhile, Bournemouth also faces its challenges, having adjusted their defense, with new players like Milos Kerkez potentially facing his former team. Manager Andoni Iraola remains confident in his lineup’s ability to replicate last year’s performances.
Slot says Liverpool are too ‘honest’ on the pitch
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot believes his team are too honest for their own good but he does not want them to change in their defence of their Premier League title.
The Dutchman said he often “blamed” them for not taking a genuine foul when they had the option but also felt their positive approach was in part responsible for their success last season.
“If there is one team in the league that is, in my opinion, the most honest when we play – I sometimes blame them that they never try to make from a foul a little bit more – and never dives and never time delays and all these kind of things, then it is us,” said Slot.
“In the (Community Shield) game against Palace they hold Florian (Wirtz) in midfield and he didn’t fall over and the referee says ‘If you don’t fall, I don’t give a free-kick’, which is a little bit weird.
“Than a fraction later they fell down in a moment which wasn’t even a foul and the referee thought ‘Oh, he fell down so it probably is a foul’. We had much more ball possession than Palace but we made 13 fouls and they made five. That tells you also about who we are.”