Liverpool boss Arne Slot has spoken after the 3-1 friendly win over Yokohama F Marinos in Japan on Wednesday
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot during the friendly match against Yokohama F Marinos at Nissan Stadium on July 30 2025 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Arne Slot is concerned Liverpool are repeating defensive mistakes as he warned his players not to dwell on last season’s Premier League title triumph. The Reds completed their tour of the Far East by coming from behind to beat J League side Yokohama F Marinos 3-1 in Japan on Wednesday.
Club record signing Florian Wirtz netted the equaliser before teenage substitutes Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha completed a victory achieved on a difficult pitch and in sweltering heat.
As in the 4-2 defeat to AC Milan in Hong Kong last weekend, Liverpool were caught on the counter-attack on several occasions including the opening goal from Asahi Uenaka 10 minutes into the second half.
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And while pleased at the competitive nature of the game, Slot was unimpressed by a failure to address the defensive shortcomings of five days previous.
“It was a good game against an opponent that is in the middle of their season,” he said. “They made it an intense game for us which is nice to have in pre-season, this is what we are looking for. They competed with us.
“I saw a few very positive things – us coming back from 1-0 down, seeing players from the bench impacting the game, some good build-up moments.
“What I also saw is in the goal and chances we conceded, we need to work harder to sprint back than we did. This also happened against Milan.
“It could be because of a tough training camp or the heat, but we definitely have to improve that.”
Liverpool will now jet home from Asia ahead of their final warm-up assignment of pre-season, a double-header against Athletic Bilbao at Anfield on Monday.
They then face Crystal Palace in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday, August 10 before opening the Premier League season at home to Bournemouth the following Friday.
And Slot is using Liverpool’s most recent visit to the national stadium – when they lost the League Cup final to Newcastle United in March – as a motivating factor to focus solely on hitting the ground running this term.
“I am focused on this season but I am aware of what we have achieved,” said the Reds boss. “I had quite a long holiday, five or six weeks, and because we won the league so early I could enjoy this for quite a long time.
“The moment we started again was the moment we stopped thinking about that. There are now no moments to enjoy what we did last season, our focus must be on this season.
“It will be another tough season. Look at what all the Premier League teams are doing, it is getting stronger. My full focus is on next season and being ready, we are making steps forward.
“I also don’t forget we went to Wembley and had to watch Newcastle lifting a trophy. In two weeks we go to Wembley again and we need to show a different face.”