Federico Chiesa has claimed that Liverpoolâ€s troubles are not long term and Arne Slotâ€s side will have answers for any long-ball tactics that Crystal Palace employ in the Carabao Cup.
Liverpool have lost twice against Palace this season, with the reverse at Selhurst Park last month marking the start of a damaging sequence of five defeats in six games. The teams meet again at Anfield on Wednesday when Slot faces a dilemma over the extent of his rotation, given injuries and recent results.
The head coach conceded after the latest defeat at Brentford on Saturday that Liverpool “havenâ€t found an answer yet†to the style of play they are encountering regularly. That includes low blocks, set pieces and long balls, but Chiesa insists the Premier League champions will be equipped to handle that approach in the fourth-round tie.
“We have players that are world class and that can be put in any situation and will perform, so I donâ€t see any problem,†the Liverpool forward said.
“If Crystal Palace wants to play long ball and long throw-ins they are more than welcome to do so, because weâ€re going to answer them with high intensity and winning duels, and trying to win. I donâ€t know if you say this in English but [in Italy] we say: ‘Winning brings winning.†So we want to win tomorrow. Thatâ€s it.â€
Liverpool were top with a 100% record when they visited Oliver Glasnerâ€s team on 27 September but since then they have not collected a Premier League point. Chiesa admitted that the task of assimilating several new players is not the only issue with the side.
“Itâ€s many reasons and thereâ€s not just one thing,†he said. “Weâ€re not winning. At the beginning of the season we were winning and no one was questioning this and that. Unfortunately itâ€s not [a good time] but I always think positive and I hope weâ€re going to bounce back. We have the quality and the players to do so and we have a fantastic manager so I donâ€t see any trouble. I hope thereâ€s not going to be any trouble in the future.â€
The Italy international revealed the Liverpool dressing room was silent after the 3-2 defeat at Brentford that has left them trailing the leaders, Arsenal, by seven points. “No one was speaking,†he said. “Because afterwards everyone knows. Sometimes you donâ€t have to speak about the situation. You know whatâ€s going on.
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“We have to think about what we can do better and usually when we are in this situation the first thing that comes to your mind is to give more, train harder. I think it was good that after the game we didnâ€t talk because itâ€s a sign that everyone wants to change.â€
The third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman could make his Liverpool debut against Palace with the youngsters Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha, who started the third-round win against Southampton, in contention. There could also be a place in the squad for the 18-year-old right winger Kieran Morrison, an unused substitute at Brentford. Curtis Jones is the latest injury concern for Slot on top of Alisson, Jeremie Frimpong, Alexander Isak, Ryan Gravenberch, Jayden Danns and Giovanni Leoni.
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