Arne Slot admitted that during the break he had to create “anger” with his players when Liverpool came from a goal to defeat the bottom side Southampton to clearly move 16 points at the top of the Premier League.
The Reds organized a second half comeback to achieve a 3-1 victory over the wrestling saints in Anfield, thanks to a Mohamed Salah Brace and Darwin Nunez after Will Smallbone had given the visitors a shock leader.
The victory comes only three days after Slot’s side had overcome a PSG attack in Paris to get a slim 1-0 benefit and to get a 16 collision in the second leg of their Champions League round.
Three goals, three points ✊🔴 pic.twitter.com/adskwzyjof
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 8, 2025
The visit of Southampton, at least on paper, was a completely different challenge for the team of Slot, but the Dutch manager still felt the need to make three changes during the break in an attempt to get back into the competition.
Slot revealed that he had warned his team against complacency prior to the kick -off and talked about how to create “anger” in the dressing room during the break to fire his players.
“I think I tried everything for the game,” said Slot after the game.
“So in the media, in my meetings, to make it clear to them [the players] How difficult of a game is this.
“But in the end I had to make a number of difficult decisions during the break to create a certain anger with the players. And those who came again were very important to us and that helped us to bring the victory on the line. ‘
Liverpool’s lead at the top can be cut to 13 points if Arsenal defeated Manchester United in Old Trafford on Sunday.
Next for the team of Slot is a second confrontation with PSG. The two teams meet on Tuesday in Anfield with a place in the last eight of Europe’s Elite Club competition at stake.
