The Liverpool head coach admitted Eddie Howe's side made life very difficult for them at Anfield
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: Getty Images)
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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot hailed the way his side responded to Newcastle United's first-half challenge in their 4-1 win over the Magpies at Anfield on Saturday night.
The Dutch boss admitted he side were up against it in the first half-hour, as United dominated the opening exchanges on Merseyside.
Anthony Gordon gave Eddie Howe's side a deserved lead with a superbly-taken effort, with Harvey Barnes having already struck the post with an almost inch-perfect free-kick.
However, Liverpool kicked into gear before the break, with a quickfire double from Hugo Ekitike giving the Reds a 2-1 half-time lead.
Despite more second-half pressure from Newcastle, Florian Wirtz made it 3-1 on another Liverpool counter-attack, before Ibra Konate added a fouth into injury time after goalkeeper Nick Pope spilled a cross.
Slot was delighted with how his side fought back from behind, although he conceded it was tough against a lively Newcastle for the first 30 minutes.
"I think so many times we've come back from going behind and so many times we showed mentality, but unfortunately – like last week – we conceded in the end," he said.
"So, I think not only coming back from [going behind] and winning it, I think it’s the whole way we won it.
"The way we defended in our box, the desire we had to attack the other box.
"We had a very tough first half-hour, but after that first half-hour we could have scored more goals.
"It took quite a long time before we scored the third; we had a lot of opportunities to score earlier, but we just kept on fighting.
"There was a great combination between the fans and the players and I think that it is indeed important to come back from behind, but I think it’s even more important the way we played in both boxes."
The defeat for Newcastle means they have not won in their last three Premier League matches, following a the goalless draw at Wolves and the 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa.
Howe's men now travel to Manchester City for the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday, already two goals behind to Pep Guardiola's side following the first leg.
United are back in Premier League action next weekend when Brentford come to St James' Park on Saturday (5.30pm), before heading to North London to face Tottenham on Tuesday evening.
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