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Introduction
Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Southampton in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday night saw them secure a place in the semi-finals, and Arne Slot, the Reds’ manager, was pleased with his team’s performance despite being forced to watch from the stands due to a touchline ban. The win, which came courtesy of goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott, highlighted the strength of Liverpool’s squad depth and the positive contributions from both experienced players and youngsters. Here’s a breakdown of Slot’s reaction to the win, the key players, and what it means moving forward.
Arne Slot Reflects on the Match from the Stands
For Arne Slot, watching the game from the stands due to a suspension was an unusual experience. However, despite being unable to provide direct instructions from the touchline, he was pleased with how his team performed. Reflecting on the match, Arne Slot remarked on how his warmth towards the squad’s efforts grew as the game progressed:
“Good. Warm. Warmer I think than down the line. Hopefully, it stays just as one time.”
Slot’s touchline ban didn’t diminish his sense of pride in the team’s performance, which saw them hold firm after a late Southampton surge.
Nunez and Elliott Lead the Way
The two players who stood out in the win were Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott, both of whom delivered key performances on the night. Nunez opened the scoring with a well-taken goal, and Elliott followed suit with a goal of his own. For Elliott, it was a particularly important moment as it marked his first start of the season after recovering from injury.
Arne Slot was pleased with how both players contributed, especially Elliott, who had already shown flashes of his quality in the weekend’s match against Fulham:
“Harvey already had a good impact in the game at the weekend against Fulham, so it was good to see he is able to play 90 for him today and even score a goal.”
In addition to Elliott’s performance, Slot noted how they had to adjust his position during the match to keep him involved in the game. Initially starting on the right wing, Elliott was moved into the midfield after 15-20 minutes when he wasn’t getting as much of the ball.
“Started him off on the right, I felt he almost got a bit bored and didn’t touch the ball a lot, so after 15-20 minutes we changed his [position] and were playing him in the midfield. We know he is a better midfielder than he is a winger, but we had to do it like this.”
This tactical shift proved to be a success, with Elliott continuing to play an important role in the match and contributing to the victory.
Wataru Endo’s Impressive Display in a New Role
Another player who impressed on the night was Wataru Endo. The Japanese midfielder was deployed in a different position, showcasing his versatility and quality. Arne Slot was full of praise for Endo’s performance, especially given the difficult circumstances of being asked to play in an unfamiliar role.
“If I have to give someone a big compliment it should be Wata Endo because in a different position playing such a good game in these circumstances, that shows you what a quality player he is, but mainly maybe what kind of mentality and personality he has.”
Endo’s ability to adapt to various roles on the field and perform at a high level reflects his professionalism and commitment to the team. Arne Slot’s acknowledgment of Endo’s mentality underscores the importance of such qualities in a Liverpool squad that is aiming for both domestic and European success this season.
The Academy’s Contribution to the Squad
One of the key themes in Arne Slot’s reaction was his appreciation of the players coming through the club’s youth system. Liverpool’s academy has long been a source of talent for the first team, and Slot was delighted to see young players make an impact in such an important match.
Arne Slot spoke about the pride the club takes in developing players from within, pointing to the example of Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose journey from academy graduate to first-team regular has become a source of inspiration for many. He also mentioned how fans have shown their appreciation for homegrown talents, especially when songs for Alexander-Arnold are sung by the crowd.
“I think this club is known for this. I heard the fans singing for Trent [Alexander-Arnold], the song about the Scouser, I don’t know exactly what they sing, but it probably has to do with him coming from the Academy as well.”
Arne Slot expressed confidence in the abilities of the young players in the squad, particularly those who train daily with the first team. However, he also stressed the importance of understanding that it’s not enough to simply be good enough to play at this level the players must be able to compete with established stars such as Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and others.
“The thing for them is, it’s not about easily playing at this level, but you have to compete with Mo [Salah], Virgil [van Dijk] and all these kind of players. It’s not enough to be good enough to play at this level, you have to be good enough to play for Liverpool and that is probably the next step they have to make.”
Despite these challenges, Arne Slot was clear in his belief that the young players have shown they are capable of playing at a Premier League level, which bodes well for their future prospects at the club.
Federico Chiesa’s Return to Action
One of the most anticipated aspects of the match was the return of Federico Chiesa, who had been sidelined for five or six months due to injury. Arne Slot was cautious in his expectations for the Italian winger, knowing that it would take time for him to reach his best form.
When asked about Chiesa’s performance after his long absence, Arne Slot noted both the good and the not-so-good moments:
“I don’t know if we saw it the same, but I think what I saw is what you can expect. If a player is out for five or six months you cannot expect [too much]. I saw ups and downs. I saw some really good moments and I saw some moments where I felt like, ‘OK, you can do better than this.'”
Arne Slot was careful to manage expectations, acknowledging that it was completely normal for a player returning from such a long injury layoff to have some inconsistencies in his performance. However, he also pointed out that it was encouraging to see Chiesa show flashes of his potential.
“But it’s good to see that he’s back and that he had a few good moments in the game.”
The challenge for Chiesa, as Slot mentioned, will be to prove himself in competition with the likes of Salah, Gakpo, Luis Diaz, and others a high bar for any player.
Balancing Squad Depth and Long-Term Fitness
With a demanding fixture schedule ahead, Arne Slot’s decision to rotate the squad and make several changes was a necessary one. While the win was important, it was also about managing the fitness of players over the long term.
“It was good for us that it was enough to win it.”
Arne Slot explained that players who had accumulated a lot of minutes were given rest, while those who had not played as much were given a chance to step in and make an impact. This rotation is part of a broader strategy to keep the squad fresh for the challenges ahead, ensuring that all players remain sharp and ready for upcoming matches.
“For the ones who have played a lot, only 45 or 60 minutes, and the ones who haven’t played a lot play 90. That’s what we did.”
Arne Slot’s confidence in his squad was evident as he stated that even with the changes, Liverpool still had enough quality to secure the win.
Conclusion
Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Southampton was an important step forward in the Carabao Cup, with a number of players stepping up to the challenge. From Elliott’s first start of the season to Endo’s versatility, the squad’s depth was on full display. Slot’s strategic rotation of the team and his faith in both experienced and younger players sets the stage for a positive and competitive season ahead. As Liverpool moves into the semi-finals, they will be hoping to continue this momentum and add another piece of silverware to their collection.
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YNWA (You’ll Never Walk Alone)!
The Liverpool FC Times Team
LiverpoolFCTimes.com