Liverpool left it late to secure a 2-2 draw against Fulham, with Arne Slot’s side playing the majority of the game down a man after Andy Robertson’s sending-off.
The Scottish defender was dismissed 17 minutes into the first-half after denying the Cottagers a goalscoring opportunity having already gone 1-0 up at Anfield, though Slot was still impressed by what he saw from Robertson for Liverpool.
With Theo Walcott lauding Diogo Jota as the Portuguese international scored on his Liverpool return having missed the last 11 games due to injury, the Reds will be pleased with winning a point against Fulham given the circumstances.
And Cody Gakpo has now shared what Slot told the Liverpool players at half-time against the west London side.
(SUN AND SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Cody Gakpo of Liverpool celebrates with Luis Diaz after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match b...
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Liverpool told to play with more intensity and to get Anfield going
Speaking on Premier League Goal Rush, the Dutch international revealed that Slot asked for more intensity in the second-half, with the Liverpool manager also telling the Reds to get the Anfield crowd on their side after the restart.
There was a clear change in how Liverpool played in the second-half, with the Merseyside giants looking more controlled on the ball and using the vacant space left by Robertson better to neutralise Fulham in the final-third.
And for Gakpo, these tactical decisions from Slot as well as his comments on getting the fans on Liverpool’s side worked, with the Reds looking more up for it after the restart at Anfield in what was an entertaining game.
Gakpo said: “It was more a tactical shift with when we had the ball and didn’t have the ball, but he mainly spoke about the intensity, trying to get the crowd behind us like they always do, and to go for the goal. That happened, and we did a good job in putting more energy into the game, and the crowd helped us too.”
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Anfield on December 01, 2024 in Liv...
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Slot again showed why he’s the perfect manager for Liverpool
Slot’s tactical tweaks for Liverpool changed the game against Fulham, with Ryan Gravenberch winning praise from Steve Nicol for playing in central defence as the Dutch international was moved to the back after Robertson’s dismissal in the first half.
And after Gakpo’s comments on what Slot did at half-time, the former Feyenoord manager again showed why he is the perfect manager for Liverpool, with the Dutchman engineering a result that few would have predicted at 1-0 down and a key player in Robertson being sent off.
Indeed, Slot has tactically evolved Liverpool this season since inheriting Jurgen Klopp’s team, and the Reds are becoming a better unit as a result, with this weekend’s result a clear example of the improvements the Merseyside giants have made.
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