Manager Arne Slot blamed Liverpool’s run of three straight defeats on “small margins” while captain Virgil van Dijk suggested that it was only natural for the Reds to struggle given “what has happened off” the pitch.
A stoppage-time winner from Estêvão condemned Liverpool to a 2–1 defeat at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening, which represented the first time the reigning Premier League champions had lost more than two consecutive games during Slot’s tenure.
Liverpool had been undone by another late goal away to Crystal Palace last weekend before losing 1–0 to Galatasaray in the Champions League in midweek.
After a Community Shield shootout loss to begin the new season, Slot’s side had enjoyed seven straight wins before this current run. However, six of those victories were by a one-goal margin and as many inside the club were happy to admit, Liverpool never looked at their best in those games. Slot argued that this recent wobble has no grand underlying cause.
“Last season we lost against Chelsea as well,” the Dutch boss pointed out to Sky Sports. “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 Palace. And then today they score a goal that could go at either end.
“After we scored 1–1 it went our way and I think I was waiting for us to score the second. Decision-making could’ve been better, last 10–15 minutes was end-to-end. We arrived in their 18-yard box with [Andy] Robertson, we couldn’t control the ball but again it’s fine margins like it’s been for as long as I’ve been here.
“Last week, same as this week two difficult away games, the fine margins haven’t been in our favour.”
Liverpool haven’t exactly been helping themselves get the best of those intangible edges. Despite splashing a record-breaking sum on a new-look frontline, the Reds have at times lacked fluency going forward. Defensive issues have been even more concerning—newly promoted Sunderland have conceded three fewer goals than the Merseysiders while this perennially crisis-strewn iteration of Manchester United have faced fewer shots than Liverpool.
