Arne Slot admitted he made a selection mistake after Liverpool’s win over Southampton in the Premier League.
Liverpool Overcome Early Shock to Secure 3-1 Win Over Southampton
Liverpool continued their march toward the Premier League title with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Southampton at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
Despite being the overwhelming favorites, the Reds were caught off guard in the first half as Will Smallbone capitalized on a rare miscommunication between Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk to give the visitors a shock lead heading into halftime.
However, Liverpool came out firing in the second half, with Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah turning the game around within 10 minutes of the restart. Salah then sealed the victory with a penalty, ensuring Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the table to 16 points before Arsenal’s clash with Manchester United on Sunday.
Arne Slot Admits Selection Error with Szoboszlai
After the match, Liverpool manager Arne Slot acknowledged that he may have made a mistake by starting Dominik Szoboszlai, who was substituted at halftime.
Speaking to TeamTalk, Slot explained:
“If I could do it over again, I would have started differently today – but you don’t know these things in advance. Every time I speak about Dominik, I say he is a machine. He keeps going, running and running.”
He added:
“This was maybe the first time I saw a different energy from him, which is understandable. Maybe I made a mistake by playing him, as he gives so much every single game. The good news is he only played 45 minutes and will be more rested for the upcoming matches.”
With another crucial week ahead, Liverpool remain in control of the title race, and Slot will be looking to keep his squad fresh as they push toward glory.
Slot Keeps Liverpool Grounded Despite 16-Point Lead
Despite Liverpool’s commanding 16-point lead at the top of the Premier League, Arne Slot is refusing to get ahead of himself.
Speaking after the 3-1 win over Southampton, the Dutchman stressed the importance of staying focused, acknowledging that the gap could quickly shrink.
“It’s 16 for now, but that can be down to seven by the time we play Everton in a few weeks,” Slot warned. “Arsenal have three Premier League games before we next play in the top flight.”
Champions League Clash with PSG Awaits
Liverpool won’t have much time to celebrate, as they turn their attention to a huge Champions League round of 16 second-leg clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night.
The Reds hold a narrow advantage after Harvey Elliott’s late strike secured a 1-0 win in the first leg at the Parc des Princes. With a spot in the quarter-finals on the line, Slot will be hoping his side can maintain their momentum in Europe.
