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Arne Slot believes Liverpool's packed schedule was the prime reason behind their heart-breaking defeat against Bournemouth. The Reds initially looked to be on their way to an unlikely point after coming back from two goals down.

Strikes from Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai had cancelled out goals from Evanilson and Alex Jimenez from the hosts. But Bournemouth secured a late win as Amine Adli scored from a late throw-in.

Slot refused to blame his squad, and suggested that the Reds’ energy-sapping fixture schedule had contributed to a lack of concentration. He said: "If you lose again in extra-time after coming back from two down, then it can be a cruel game for us indeed.

"There were only 5-10 minutes in the first half where we did not have total control. For large parts of the first half and the second half.

"It felt to me constantly that if we made it 2-1 we would be able to come back into the game. We were there, a lot of times in promising positions. Second half, total dominance.

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"It's fair to say in the last 10 minutes, it was more open. I could see my players were tired in the end cause we only had two days between the games.

"The last 10 minutes was probably their best 10 minutes though we were on their side, as well. It's mostly the same players who have to play and it's safe to say they were very tired.

"I saw Jeremie Frimpong almost falling over his own feet before I took him off. If you constantly play the same players - then sometimes a few of them can be tired at the end especially against a very intense Bournemouth team."

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The late defeat to Bournemouth leaves Liverpool fourth in the Premier League, albeit they only hold a one-point advantage over Manchester United, who play Arsenal on Sunday.

Slot's side will be back in action in midweek as they take on Qarabag in their final Champions League group stage fixture. They will then turn their attention back to the Premier League - with a home clash against Newcastle next Saturday.

They could, potentially, be without defender Andy Robertson for those games, with talks ongoing with Spurs, but Slot stopped short of confirming whether he would be leaving. He added: "No updates in terms of transfers. I never speak in public about transfers. There's nothing to say on my side."

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