The first 3 consecutive losses in Arne Slot's coaching career have given the Liverpool captain many things to reflect on during the international break. The Kop will host Manchester United at Anfield in the Super Sunday match this weekend.
It should be noted that all three of these narrow defeats, including 2 matches from goals conceded in extra time, all took place away against tough opponents. They are Crystal Palace, Turkish champions Galatasaray and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge - where Liverpool often have difficulties.
However, Liverpool themselves have also benefited from late victories in all 5 first rounds of the Premier League. These are victories that partly cover up their inherent weaknesses in playing style, although Arne Slot certainly was not deceived by that.

The Dutch coach has picked up an alarming trend in the second half of last season's championship campaign. Opponents are no longer proactive in attacking Liverpool, but instead exploit them with quick counter-attacks or take advantage of individual mistakes - something that has happened too often in recent times.
As a result, the reigning Premier League champions' attacking ability has clearly declined, while the defense has also lost solidity since the beginning of the year.
According to Arne Slot, this was one of the reasons why the club decided to spend £116.5 million - a record fee in England at that time - to recruit Florian Wirtz, Germany's best young attacking talent, in the summer transfer window.
"At the beginning of last season, Jurgen Klopp gave me a lot of gifts. One of them was the team finishing third last season and fifth last season, along with his great reputation to the point that when I took over, people thought: "Oh, Liverpool will play that characteristic football again".
But in fact, the teams have faced us in a completely different way in the first half of the season - when we were leading the Premier League and top of the Champions League compared to before" - Arne Slot said before the loss to Chelsea.
With the upcoming reception of Man United, Arne Slot reiterated his two encounters with a match-making opponent last season. That was a 3-0 win at Old Trafford in September, and a 2-2 draw at Anfield in January.
"If you compare how we won away against Man United, when they tried to deploy the ball from the back, with the way they played at Anfield, when Andre Onana kept passing long, that is the factor that changed everything," said the Dutch captain.

Arne Slot pointed out that the tactical change from the opponent "is happening at this stage of the season, and Liverpool must find an answer to that". At the same time, he also needs to urgently solve outstanding problems right in his own team.
While Liverpool's starting lineup could be predicted for any game in the previous season, things are different now. Arne Slot seems uncertain about his strongest squad.
This is the time for him to choose his preferred lineup and stick with it in the coming time - starting from the match against Man United - as he tries to get the Premier League champions back on track.