Liverpool’s past and present: Steven Gerrard has some advice for Arne Slot
Steven Gerrard has urged Liverpool manager Arne Slot to “stop mentioning low blocks” after the Champions League win over Marseille.
The Reds largely struggling to break down such staunch rearguard efforts was a key topic again in the build-up to Wednesday night’s commanding 3-0 victory in France, which saw Liverpool extend their unbeaten run across all competitions to 13 games after four draws in their last five, and indeed has been at many stages of what has been a difficult season overall following the Premier League title success last term.
Slot once again discussed it after the game in both his broadcast interview with TNT Sports and post-match press conference, something clearly noted by Gerrard as the Anfield legend insisted that Liverpool coming up against such defensive opposition was certainly nothing new.
"I'm really pleased for him,” Gerrard said of Slot in his role as a pundit on TNT. “It can't be easy when you're under that pressure.
“His tactics were spot on tonight. He deserves a lot of praise and credit.
“He needs to stop mentioning low blocks. Low blocks have been happening against Liverpool since I was playing. That's just the way it is.”
Gerrard also urged resurgent Liverpool to “reset their mentality” as they look to swiftly follow up silencing a hostile atmosphere at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille during Saturday’s trip to meet Bournemouth in the Premier League.
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“I don’t think we doubt Liverpool in terms of being able to handle an atmosphere,” said the former long-serving Reds captain. “We know they’ve got experienced players, they recently won the league, they’ve won the Champions League and they’ve competed for the Champions League over recent times.
“It’s consistency now with Liverpool. [Virgil] Van Dijk almost said [in his post-match interview], I’m sick of saying now we’ve got to get momentum and it is about consistency, especially when you’re a Liverpool player.
“Now they’ve got to reset. Enjoy tonight, get yourselves recovered, get the team in a good place, but it’s that mentality.
“Take the same mentality to Bournemouth and treat Bournemouth like you did tonight, and then you won’t have a problem against Bournemouth. It’s about resetting the mentality.”