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The Dutch manager has stated that the Anfield decision-makers agree with his assessment regarding the poor performance streak and he will not abandon their forward-thinking philosophy in search of a turnaround. The tactician conceded that six defeats in seven games was not good enough ahead of Aston Villa's visit.

Pressure Mounting During Difficult Period

The manager acknowledged the pressure was on before his altered lineup were eliminated from the Carabao Cup against the London club. However, he insisted that this pressure to arrest the slide is not coming from the team's proprietors or management structure following a substantial investment of almost £450m.

"Our views align," stated Slot, whose side will meet Real Madrid in the Champions League and travel to Manchester City in the Premier League.

Squad Quality Continues Unchallenged

The coach is convinced his team "boast a remarkable roster if they are completely available and all ready for the fixture list". He said that the summer investment in talents including the German international and the Swedish striker, who is probably unavailable again against the Birmingham club through injury, had left the club "in a strong situation for the short-term future and the years to come".

Gelling Difficulties

When pressed on why his team were taking so long to gel, he responded: "That question isn't constructive. 'What are the reasons?' I give an explanation and people say I'm offering alibis. I can identify several explanations why we are underperforming or losing as much as we do but, as I always emphasize, there are insufficient justifications to have a run of form as we had now."

• No matter if I could list numerous reasons
• Leading this club you must avoid losses
• In truth six out of seven

Defensive Numbers

Only the Lancashire club (21) have allowed more significant openings from open play this season than the Merseysiders (19). The table-toppers, the North London club, have faced two. Yet Liverpool's coach rejects the champions have been too open and claims there is no reason to sacrifice his attacking principles for a cautious system after 10 games without a shutout.

"I don't see us giving up numerous openings so I don't see a reason to modify our philosophy completely but we have to enhance in preventing goals," he stated.

Specific Instances

"Versus the Red Devils, how many chances did we concede? Against Eintracht Frankfurt when we were leading 3-1, we barely allowed a effort at our net. In each fixture we played until now we haven't given up a many opportunities. Not at all. We do concede a somewhat more than the previous campaign but that has to do with us being 1-0 down so you play more openly. But overall I don't feel that our challenge is that we give up too many openings. Our issue is we fail to convert the openings we produce."