Arne Slot 'wasn't screaming' but made Liverpool players 'realise' first-half against Brighton 'wasn't enough'
By Conor Keenan
Published 02/11/2024 at 19:39 GMT
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Arne Slot revealed he delved into his motivational toolbox to fire his team to defeat Brighton at Anfield. The result means that Slot becomes the most successful Liverpool manager in his opening 10 games, winning eight as Liverpool have now opened a two-point gap at the top of the Premier League table. The Liverpool boss also provided an update on Ibrahima Konate's potential injury.
Liverpool resilience gives Slot a ‘lot of confidence for the season’
Video credit: SNTV
Arne Slot admitted he needed to employ some firm words to his Liverpool players at half-time of their eventual win over Brighton, having trailed at the break.
Liverpool were forced to battle back from a goal behind at Anfield after Ferdi Kadioglu fired the visitors into a 1-0 lead early in the first half, with the hosts struggling for large periods of the opening 45 minutes.
The Reds rallied in the second half, with Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah netting the goals that took them top of the Premier League.
“Credit to Brighton, the way they showed up,” Slot said after the game. “We didn't show up at all in every part of the game."
After limping into half-time a goal behind, the hosts charged out of the gates in the second half, missing great opportunities to equalise through Alexis MacAllister, Virgil van Djik and Salah.
But Gakpo and Salah found the target to secure the three points, and the response pleased Slot.
"If you face a good team like Brighton, it's not enough," he said. "We changed a bit of tactics. The players showed a different attitude and a different intensity.
"I wasn't screaming, it was just making sure the players realised this wasn't enough.
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“In the second half, we were dominant.
"To come back so strong against a good-quality team today, that gives me a lot of confidence. We need to show up from the start. Our fans were incredible in the second half. The loudest crowd since I've been here.
"If you create your chances and it doesn't go in, you do change. I don't think anyone in the second half deserved to be taken out. It wasn't that much of a risk when 1-0 down, to bring on players who can score a goal. They brought intensity without the ball, quality with it.”
The result now means Slot has picked up the most wins of any Liverpool manager in their opening 10 top-flight games, winning eight.
Slot told the media that Ibrahima Konate was in “a lot of pain” at half-time after being withdrawn with an arm injury, with the Liverpool boss confirming it was hard to know how bad the injury was.
“It was disappointing that he [Konate] had to go off," Slot said. "The good thing is I have two other good options in Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez.
“We don't know the extent yet. He was in a lot of pain. Hasn't been to the hospital, maybe doesn't need to. Always tough to judge straight away, but Joe deserved the trust I gave him today.”
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