Despite a commanding 6-3 victory over Tottenham, Liverpool manager Arne Slot wasn’t totally happy with his team’s performance. The Reds dominated the game against Ange Postecoglou‘s side, leading 5-1 at one point, and despite late goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke for Spurs, the match was largely in Liverpool‘s control.
However, Slot criticised some of his players for easing off after the hour mark, stating it was ‘not good enough’ even though they secured all three points.
“For 60 minutes we did everything we had to do, we were comfortable and good with the ball. The main thing is we worked very, very hard,” Slot told Match of the Day.
“But then the same players with the same quality thought that 10 or 15 minutes of not working as hard was good enough. Tottenham have enough quality to score goals if you give them chances. You have to be on top of your game for the whole game and we didn’t do that.”
Liverpool now lead the Premier League by four points, with a game in hand over the rest of the top 10. However, Slot has warned his team against complacency.
Slot added to Sky Sports having lost just once in 16 games: “It tells you we are a very good team. Still three games to go until halfway but if you go here and play the game we did then it shows we are a hard team to beat.
“If it was easy to win the league then every team would do it. The first 50-55 minutes is what you want, apart from the goal we conceded. 3-1 up and then it ended up being 5-1.
“We thought it was enough but Tottenham have far too much quality and they’re able to create and score.”
“Against every team, there’s an opportunity. If they go for man for man which they did for the first goal, then it needs one player to outplay the other and then you have an extra man. They have a very good idea about football.
“If you give them too much space then they will hurt you. I like what Ange does. He is at a club where they don’t win that much in the last 15 to 20 years. They should be one of the best players in the world otherwise you don’t play for Liverpool.”
Slot expressed admiration for Ange Postecoglou‘s work at Tottenham, remarking: “If you give them too much space then they will hurt you. I like what Ange does.
“He is at a club where they don’t win that much in the last 15 to 20 years. They should be one of the best players in the world otherwise you don’t play for Liverpool.”
And he hailed two-goal, two-assist hero Mohamed Salah‘s contribution: “Mo [Salah] got two goals and two assists. He played a very good game. With Trent, the focus might be on the great cross for the first goal but playing against Son is not easy but he did very well.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk