'Results don't lie' - Slot wants Liverpool reaction after losing streak

Arne Slot acknowledged that "results don't lie" as Liverpool attempt to end their three-game losing streak in all competitions against Manchester United on Sunday.

Liverpool had made a perfect start to the league campaign, helped out by late goals, but their form caught up to them before the international break.

They suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats against Crystal Palace and Chelsea on either side of their Champions League loss to Galatasaray.

It is the first time that Liverpool have been on such a run since Slot stepped into the dugout.

If they were to lose on Sunday, they would lose three consecutive top-flight matches for the first time since February 2021 (a run of four).

Liverpool could be as far as four points off the leaders by the end of the weekend, and Slot knows he needs to see a fast improvement from his side.

"What I like about top players is they don't do anything differently if they win three in a row," Slot said.

"They don't walk into the building thinking they are better than everyone else. They prepare every game in the same way, whether they win or lose. But the outside world is very focused on results, which we are as well.

"We don't deny that we need to do better. We are working every single day to make the gap between us and the teams we face bigger.

"We've played 10, won seven and lost three. The three losses were by close margins. Twice in the last minutes, both teams got a penalty; both times, VAR should have overturned the decision.

"But only the one we got was overturned, so the margins are small. But as I keep saying, we should not be dependent on such margins.

"Results don't lie. If you lose three in a row, then you have to do better. We are aware of that, and we have to react."

Liverpool have a new look attack compared to last season, with Alexander Isak still chasing his first Premier League goal, while Mohamed Salah has failed to hit the heights of last term, though he has scored 13 goals against United in the league.

And Florian Wirtz is yet to register a goal or assist in the Premier League despite having nine shots and creating 11 chances – his 20 combined shots and chances created are the most of any player yet to score or assist in the competition this term.

"The first answer is not to concede as many goals as we did. If a team scores one or two goals, then we need three goals.

"In the first half of last season, we mainly got these goals from a special moment from one of our front three; second half, we needed set-pieces against a low block. This season, we haven't had those special moments, and we haven't scored from set pieces.

"It's clear that conceding four goals from set pieces is far too much for a team that wants to compete."

Slot is also confident that Isak will find his best form, having caught up to the right fitness level following an interrupted pre-season.

"Now he's had his five or six weeks of pre-season, fitness-wise, he is close to the level he should be. Now we can judge him in a fair way from now on," Slot said.

"His pre-season has finished now, he's played a few games, so we see where he is in the coming weeks."

United have struggled to put together a strong run of form this season, alternating between winning and losing in their last four league games. On the road, they have not won since March.

According to Opta's expected points table, United have underperformed this season; their expected points total is 12.5 after seven games, but Ruben Amorim's side have collected just 10.

"I look forward to every single Premier League game, but maybe more the Man United one because I know how special it is," Slot said of their opponents.

"We know it's the game that is perhaps watched the most all over the world. It's a game we have to be at our best, because, in my opinion, United have had a better start to the season than the league table suggests."