Arne Slot was unimpressed, despite Liverpool beating Girona 1-0
Arne Slot was unimpressed, despite Liverpool beating Girona 1-0
Arne Slot was fuming with Liverpool’s performance despite the Reds earning a sixth straight Champions League win.
Mo Salah's second-half penalty was enough for the Reds to beat Girona and - barring a mathematical freak - ensured they’ll go straight into the last 16.
But the returning Alisson was forced into a string of saves in the opening 45 minutes and Slot wasn’t happy with his players after they all-but secured a top eight spot.
He said: “If you ask me about all the six games, I’m really pleased with all the results. I’m really pleased with the first five games, but I’m far from pleased about the performance.
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“What wasn’t I pleased about? I wasn’t pleased with a lot. Especially two things.
“If you play against a team that has such a good idea about football and knows how to bring the ball out from the back, you need to be so intense if you want to make it difficult for them.
“But if you are waiting a few seconds to press them then this team can cause you a lot of problems.
“They showed in their games, except PSV, in the Champions League this season. I almost feel sorry for them as they deserve so much more.
Girona's Spanish forward #20 Bryan Gil, Liverpool's Scottish defender #26 Andrew Robertson and Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper #01 Alisson Becker vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Girona FC and Liverpool FC at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on December 10, 2024. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP) (Photo by JOSEP LAGO/AFP via Getty Images)
Alisson Becker impressed on his return to the Liverpool XI
“We had hardly any control at all over the game. Maybe the second half was a bit better – I’m trying to be positive.”
Slot was at least happy with Alisson’s display after he impressed on his return after 11 games out with a hamstring injury.
The Dutchman said: “I said as a joke the players wanted to see how fit he really was to give him so much work. He showed again today why I said so many times he is our first goalkeeper, nothing to do with Caoimh [Kelleher] he did so well.
“Alisson has been so important for so many years and showed why he is in my opinion one of the best or the best in the world.”
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