Slot’s Thoughts: “It’s Nice To Inherit A Team That Is So Special”
Two wins to start the season? Now coach Arne Slot gave his thoughts following the victory over Brentford.
The new Premier League campaign finally came home to Anfield on Sunday when Liverpool hosted Brentford in stunning fashion. The match ended with two goals to none, another clean sheet and another set of three points towards the table.
It was also Arne Slot’s first official home match, and though the environment left a little to be desired, the Reds were able to seal the win with goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah.
“Positive for many reasons,” Slot said when asked for his assessment following the match.
“I think Brentford showed last week with their first goal, but in general also in their first game, that they can play out from the back really good. They tried to do this here as well, sometimes it worked better than other moments but they are also really threatening on the counter-attack and they are obviously a big threat on set-pieces, and I think the only threat they had today was the set-piece where Alisson [Becker] saved us in the second half. It was also pleasing to see that from their set-piece we could score our first goal.”
Thankfully whatever defensive problems were plaguing them last weekend seemed to be dealt with, as Alisson was really only truly tested in the second half. Even better, the first goal came from a counterattack after another one of Brentford’s set pieces, with Luis Diaz charging down the pitch to catch the keeper out of his area. Slot was full of praise for his squad and that first goal in particular.
“It’s nice to inherit a team and individuals that are so special, and that’s what you saw in the first goal as well,” Slot explained.
“I think Lucho finished it off really good, Mo won an important duel around the 18-yard box – because this is what the margins in football are, if he would have lost that duel they would have maybe got a shot on target. He won the duel and then we could counter-attack them and Diogo [Jota] made a great pass with the right timing, and a great run from Lucho and he finished it off really well.”
As mentioned before Sunday was the eagerly awaited first home match of the season, and the first real chance for the fans to rally around Arne Slot as former manager Jürgen Klopp intended. Though the fans were more quiet than expected in some spells, Slot was warmed by the experience.
“The reception of the fans was similar to the reception I got from all the people in and around the AXA [Training Centre] and the people who are working for Liverpool,” continued the coach.
“So, I think I cannot speak for all of the managers, but I think maybe all of them would tell you the same: every manager that comes in here feels the warmth of this club, feels the appreciation of the fans, and the most important thing we have to do as managers is to make sure the team plays in a style that the fans like to see. That’s what we are trying and I think the boys showed that, and the fans showed their appreciation for that, I think.”
No better way to start the season than with the a home and an away win in the first two matches, especially for a coach that isn’t familiar with the challenges of the Premier League beyond watching it. The season is long, though, and there will be more challenges like managing minutes ahead, which was what Slot had in mind when taking off Trent Alexander-Arnold again the second half.
“[Trent] didn’t look that happy after being taken off, you mean? I understand. Every player wants to play 90 minutes but I don’t think the players that were on the bench from the start were really happy with the choices I made,” Slot explained.
“But Trent came back from the national team where at the beginning of the tournament he played quite a lot, then he didn’t, had a few weeks off, came back, it’s only his third game and we have to take care of him as well because we need him for the whole season and not only the first two games.
“The good thing for me is that I have a very good back-up as well with Conor [Bradley], so that means we are taking care of Trent. But he played a good game, that’s also what I saw.
“Two good wins against difficult opponents because Brentford had a very good opening game last week, but there is still a lot for us to prove in the season coming up because I said it a few times already: I think both of the teams, Ipswich and Brentford, deserve our respect for the way they have played against us, but I am not expecting one of the two [to be] in the top six in the upcoming season so there is still a lot to prove for us. But it is always good to start off with two wins and two clean sheets.”
Up next is the classic North West Derby when Liverpool travel to Manchester United and the crumbling Old Trafford. Better to get it out of the way now when we’re in good form and (mostly) uninjured, than in a packed December.
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
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