Liverpool return to Premier League action on Saturday with a late game against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Arne Slot’s men recorded a much-needed 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in midweek, with the Champions League victory in Germany ending a run of four straight defeats.
The Premier League champions were expected to be even better this season than last, especially after Liverpool signed Alexander Isak to boost their striking options.
Click to subscribe to the podcast 
However, defensive frailties have been exposed and the Reds have conceded 11 Premier League goals this season so far.
Ahead of the Brentford clash, one former Liverpool defender has stated that Slot asked him not to leave Merseyside.
Photo by Justin Berl/Getty ImagesVan den Berg makes Slot admission
Sepp van den Berg left Liverpool last summer to join Brentford, with the Dutch defender moving in search of regular first-team football.
The 23-year-old has become an important player for the Bees and has featured in all eight of his side’s Premier League games this season.
Ahead of a reunion with his old club this weekend, Van den Berg has revealed Slot tried to convince him to stay at Liverpool last summer.
“The years before, I never had this feeling of me having a proper chance,” the Dutchman told The Guardian.
“A few weeks down the line, he was saying: ‘You’re doing very well. I want you to stay.’
“He told me: ‘You’re not going to start but I believe if you stay you will get a chance in the future to start.’”
Liverpool central defensive issues
Given Liverpool’s issues at the back this season, Slot’s decree around Van den Berg getting an opportunity at Anfield may well have come to pass.
However, given that he is a regular starter for Brentford, the former Mainz loanee has most likely made the correct decision to depart Anfield.
Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images
Van den Berg will be keen to show his former employers what they are missing on Saturday, with the Netherlands under-21 international set to be tasked with stopping either Isak or Hugo Ekitike in the visiting attack.
For Liverpool, solving their defensive issues and becoming harder to beat must be Slot’s priority as the Reds look to retain their Premier League title.