Slot insists his Liverpool team must not ‘rely on margins’ after Chelsea loss condemns Reds to third-straight defeat
The Blues scored with just seconds remaining at Stamford Bridge on Saturday
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said his team must not “rely on margins” after the fell to a last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.
Brazilian teenager Estevao came off the bench to score a 95th-minute winner to inflict on Slot a third-straight defeat for the first time in his managerial career.
Moises Caicedo had given the hosts a first-half lead with a sublime strike, but a much-improved Liverpool after the break levelled through Cody Gakpo.
At the end of a pulsating encounter in London, just as the game looked like it might end in a stalemate, Estevao popped up to turn home Marc Cucurella’s low cross into the net to send the home fans into raptures.
The Liverpool boss believes the contest was an equal one but admitted “small margins” ultimately proved to be the difference.
“I think two very good teams were on the pitch today,” Slot said.
“First half unfortunately for us the only chance they had in the first half goes into the top corner. We created three open chances – [Milos] Kerkez, Dom [Dominik Szoboszlai], Alex [Alexander Isak] with the header – but I felt the game was equal.
“Second half we started off really well. It wasn’t a surprise we equalised. Last 15 minutes it was end to end. We had chances. they had chances to win. In the end we concede a last minute goal.
“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 [Crystal] Palace. And then today they score a goal that could go at either end.
“We were the dominant team but in the last 10-15 mins it was end to end, both teams could have scored. Both teams arrived a lot of times at the 18-yard line. These are the margins that don’t fall for us at the moment. We have to work harder to not rely on these margins.”
Next up for Liverpool is the visit of fierce rivals Manchester United to Anfield on 19 October, following the international break.