Arne Slot was discussing Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Newcastle at St James’ Park
Arne Slot refused to criticise the defending of his Liverpool players as they conceded three times in a game for the first time on his watch in a remarkable draw at Newcastle United.
After Alexander Isak’s opener had been cancelled out by Curtis Jones, Mohamed Salah scored two following Anthony Gordon’s effort to send the Reds into stoppage time with a 3-2 lead before Fabian Schar equalised late on.
The Premier League leaders, whose lead was cut down to seven points thanks to victories for Chelsea and Arsenal on the night, went into the game without three of their first-choice back five in Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker and Ibrahima Konate, while Kostas Tsimikas and Conor Bradley were also sidelined, meaning Jarell Quansah started a first-ever senior game at right-back against Anthony Gordon.
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Liverpool still boast the meanest defence in the division but have now conceded 11 goals in their 14 games under Slot this term but the Dutchman chose not to bemoan his players’ performances on the night from a defensive perspective.
“Tsimikas was already out before we played Real Madrid and Man City, Conor and Ibou (Konate) were out before we played City and we kept a clean sheet two times against the best teams that have dominated for so long,” Slot said.
“To go away to Newcastle is such a difficult game to play and they have so much quality throughout the squad but especially up front as well. That they are able to score a goal is not a surprise for me, especially the first one, what a finish that was from them. The shot from Isak I don’t even know if Caoimh saw that one it was hit so hard.
Slot added: “Mo Salah had a massive impact on the game, Dom Szoboszlai came in and did really well, Lucho (Luis Diaz) also. But in general the second half we played much, much better than in the first half.
“In the first half we had a lot of problems with their intensity and aggressiveness, and whenever we tried to cope with it every time we touched them we got a yellow which doesn’t help for us to be intense as well.
“But credit to them, they were more intense than us and they forced us into too many mistakes. It wasn’t that difficult to be better in the second half and that’s what we were. It was maybe difficult for them to keep the intensity of the first half going, a combination of all those things that’s why we dominated the second half.”
