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Arne Slot has blasted his players’ intensity in a drab first-half display after Liverpool were forced to come from behind to beat relegation-destined Southampton.
Showing the effects of their comparably sensational ‘smash and grab’ win at Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, Liverpool didn’t get going in the first 45 against the Premier League’s resident punching bag.
And they were punished for their lack of creativity when Will Smallbone capitalised on confusion at the back to slot the Saints in front on the brink of half-time.
After making three changes at the break, Slot saw a response from his players as Darwin Nunez equalised four minutes after the restart to calm the nerves of an embarrassment at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah then netted twice from the spot to ensure Liverpool came away with all three points, taking them 16 clear at the top.
Nevertheless, Slot fumed at his side’s efforts during the first half that left them teetering on the edge of humiliation, let alone a potential season derailment.
‘We had our chances the first half, but it didn’t came as a surprise to me we went 1-0 down because if you have no aggression, no intensity without the ball and with the ball, then it’s going to be a difficult game against any team around the world, let alone in the Premier League,’ he told beIN Sports.
Arne Slot was furious with his players’ intensity in a drab first-half performance at Anfield
Liverpool fell behind to relegation-destined Southampton thanks to a defensive mix-up
Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez led to second-half recovery to spare Slot’s embarrassment
‘Something had to change at half-time. That’s why I took a few players off, brought players in that brought a lot of energy for us. If you have energy and our quality, then it can lead to goals.’
Liverpool will need to get back to firing form for a full 90 minutes when they host PSG in their Champions League last 16 second leg next week, defending the miracle 1-0 advantage they picked up in the French capital.
Slot was asked if he thought his players’ slow start was down to them playing with an eye for Tuesday’s visit – but the Dutchman said he wasn’t sure.
‘I will never know because I cannot look in the head of my players,’ he added. ‘But I thought our game in Paris should have been a good warning for us that we need to go a level up to be ready for Paris Saint-Germain (in the second leg).
‘Maybe the only thing good comes from us being so slow in the first half that they can never tell me that they were tired after the first half.
‘Maybe they saved their legs which is necessary because the intensity of Paris Saint-Germain is crazy. We have to not just step one step up, not two, but maybe three or four for Tuesday.’
