Tuesday’s briefing: Slot scolds set-piece importance and Farke considers appeal

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has bemoaned the importance of set-pieces in the Premier League, while it’s squeaky-bum time at the Emirates Stadium after Arsenal squeezed past Chelsea.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke has been reflecting on the first sending-off of his career, while Real Madrid’s Galacticos fell flat once again, this time against lowly Getafe.

Arne Slot bemoans lack of ‘joy’ in Premier League

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot finds no joy in the football currently being played in the Premier League, but has accepted it is “the new reality”.

Set-pieces have become the dominant factor, with leaders Arsenal having proved for some time that they can provide a profitable route to success.

On Saturday, Liverpool became only the second team in Premier League history to score from three first-half corners as they cruised to victory over West Ham.

Slot said: “First of all you have to accept it. I think it is mainly here in the Premier
League; if I watch other leagues I don’t think there is so much emphasis on set-pieces.

“Do I like it? My football heart doesn’t like it. Now most of the games I see in the Premier League are not, for me, a joy to watch.”

Arsenal ready to address title nerves

Jurrien Timber insists Arsenal will address the anxiety problems which are threatening to derail their Premier League title bid.

Arsenal closed out a 2-1 win against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday to restore their five-point advantage over Manchester City at the top of the table.

However, Chelsea played the final 20 minutes with 10 players after Pedro Neto was dismissed, and Arsenal rode their luck to secure all three points.

Timber, who scored the decisive goal for Arsenal, admitted: “You feel it, especially at the end. We stopped playing, which was unnecessary, especially when we had a man up.

“It’s something we need to work on, and talk about as well. It has happened a couple of times this season already. We got through it before, but there have been couple of times we didn’t.”

Farke considers red card appeal

Leeds boss Daniel Farke insists his red card at the end of Saturday’s home Premier League defeat to Manchester City should be overturned, but has yet to decide whether he will appeal.

Farke headed straight on to the Elland Road pitch at the final whistle to confront referee Peter Bankes, aggrieved at several decisions in his side’s hard-fought 1-0 defeat and particularly at a lack of extended time added.

Antoine Semenyo scored the only goal in first-half stoppage time as City maintained the pressure on title rivals Arsenal, while Leeds stayed six points above the relegation zone after just a third defeat in 15 league games.

Farke, sent off for the first time in his 16-year managerial career, said he did not swear or use threatening language towards Bankes or his fellow officials and that the red card had been brandished before he said anything.

“I was told the Premier League, or the referees, will get in touch when they have the full report of the incident. It should be there pretty soon, then I have the chance to respond,” Farke said.

Real Madrid suffer second shock loss

Real Madrid blew their chance to move within a point of LaLiga leaders Barcelona as they crashed to a shock 1-0 home defeat against Getafe.

Martin Satriano fired a brilliant volley past Thibaut Courtois six minutes before half-time to consign the hosts to their second straight league loss.

The results comes after Real had confirmed before kick-off that star man Kylian Mbappe will face a period on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Vinicius Jr came close to breaking the deadlock midway through the first period, while defender Antonio Rudiger also directed a header inches wide.

Los Blancos had Franco Mastantuono sent off for abusive language in stoppage time, while Getafe’s Adrian Liso was also dismissed after receiving a second yellow card for time-wasting.

What’s on today

Liverpool have the chance to pull level on points with fourth-placed Aston Villa as Slot’s men travel to rock-bottom Wolves in one of four Premier League clashes.

Burnley hope to shrug off their controversial loss to Brentford when they travel to Everton, Leeds face Sunderland at Elland Road and Brentford go to Bournemouth.

In a potentially crucial clash in the Championship, Ipswich hope to boost their automatic promotion prospects with a win over play-off contenders Hull at Portman Road.