Programme notesArne Slot: We recognise the elements of our game that need to improve

A late, late goal from Alexis Mac Allister gave the Reds victory at Nottingham Forest last weekend, following up defeats of Sunderland and Brighton & Hove Albion.

But it was clear for head coach and squad that the performance versus Forest had not been of the level they wanted – and want – to reach.

Today, they will look to leverage the desire for improvement when West Ham United visit Anfield in the Premier League.

“It was not so long ago that our two clubs last met. Back then we were looking to come out of a really difficult period and we were able to record an important victory against a tough opponent; a result which gave us a platform to build on,” Slot writes in the matchday programme.

“Along with Alexander Isak scoring his first league goal for us, the other thing that sticks in my mind from that day is the support that was given to the team and myself by our travelling fans.

“Receiving this kind of support always makes a difference but it means even more during times when form has not been the best. As I said at the time, this says a lot about the club and our supporters.

“A lot has happened since then of course and I think it is clear that both teams have improved, although the Premier League table also shows that neither of us are where we want to be.

“From our point of view, we are pleased to have won our last three matches – especially as each victory came with a clean sheet – but at the same time we are also aware that there are certain areas that we need to improve on again.

“This was certainly clear in our last game away to Nottingham Forest where we picked up another good win despite a first-half performance that everyone could see was not of the standard that we are looking for.

“Having this awareness is crucial if we want to keep on getting better. It is not about beating ourselves up or allowing any negatives to outweigh the clear positives of a very good result. We just need to recognise the elements of our game that have fallen short so that we can work on them and keep on making progress.

“In fairness to the players, this kind of culture is so well established here that it is pretty much the norm. The desire for improvement, individually and collectively, is a vital quality to have and we certainly have it in abundance here. This was something I picked up on when I first arrived and it was present last season and is still present now.

“That desire to keep pushing ourselves and one another was crucial at Forest and will continue to be a key part of what we do from now until the end of the season. This is why we have been able to respond to so many difficult moments and situations, so it would definitely make sense for us to carry on doing so.”

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