Featured Image Credit: TNT Sport/Screengrab
Topics: Liverpool, Arne Slot, Ipswich Town, Premier League
John McDougall
Topics: Liverpool, Arne Slot, Ipswich Town, Premier League
Arne Slot's reign as Liverpool boss has got off to a winning start as they beat Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town - but the Dutchman left his players in no uncertain terms over how they must apply themselves in his half-time team talk.
Slot signed a three-year deal over the summer after moving from Dutch side Feyenoord to replace Jurgen Klopp in the Anfield dugout after the German departed Liverpool at the end of last season following almost a decade in charge of the Merseyside outfit.
The clash at Portman Road this lunchtime against the Tractor Boys, who have returned to the top flight following an absence of 22 years, went in goalless at half-time.
At the break, Slot made the ruthless decision to hook young defender Jarell Quansah and replaced him with Ibrahima Konate, with the former looking dejected on the bench following the call.
The Anfield side ended up taking all three points after Diogo Jota netted the opener on the hour mark, and the lead was swiftly doubled by Liverpool's talisman Mo Salah shortly afterwards as the Reds sealed a 2-0 victory.
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Slot spoke after the match to TNT Sports and he confirmed the decision to remove Quansah at half-time was indeed a tactical decision.
But he has also shed light on what he told his players after he was dissatisfied with what he saw before the break, and left them in no uncertain times about how they must apply themselves going forwards.
He said: "First thing was we don't have to speak about tactics if you don't lose so many duels. I think we needed to win the long balls through the air. That helped and gave us control. I don't think Ipswich could keep up with the tempo in the second half.
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"The first taste [of Premier League football] in the first half was maybe as expected because they were all on top of us, very aggressive. Second half was a joy to watch.
"If a team plays all over the pitch 1v1, do not always play the ball short constantly. I didn't see them fighting for it in the first half, we lost almost every long ball. In the second half they were ready and then gas opened up and you could see we can play quite good football.
"I think every game we have to do everything in terms of defence but also with the ball. You saw last season how close the games were. We have to make sure we are up there and that's what we're trying to do."
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