**Arne Slot has explained his decision to remove Rio Ngumoha from the field of play in the second half against Chelsea – a decision that was unpopular with the Anfield crowd.**
When Ngumoha’s substitution was announced, the crowd booed which Slot has not taken kindly too.
Explaining the decisions, Slot said: “No, not injured. He had cramps before that, three minutes \[before\] where he went to the floor. Then I had contact with him and he said that it was enough, so that’s why I took him off.”
Slot says he expected boos from the crowd
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The manager went on to say that he knew that Liverpool fans would boo the decision to withdraw Ngumoha from the field of play, although the Dutchman has seemingly missed the likelihood that the boos were a symptom of a much larger issue.
Slot said: _“I said it, I think, in the same interview, it makes complete sense if you take a player off that’s playing well, that assisted, that people don’t expect you to take that player off – which wasn’t my intention to do. He’s a good player but I don’t think he’s at the level yet to play at 60 or 50 per cent to then make the difference._
_“But maybe the fans have a different opinion, they think that he would have been able to play at this level at 50 per cent or 60 or it doesn’t matter what the percentage is, but not being fit enough anymore to sprint and to make your actions. So yeah, if you don’t know that and you feel like, ‘Why is he taking him off?’ then I understand that reaction._
_“I knew the moment his number went up that that would have been the reaction. But that’s not a reason then not to do it and keep a player in the team that tells me he cannot continue. And after the game, I think it also makes sense because I don’t think this club should be happy with a 1-1 result against Chelsea. We always aim for a win and if we don’t win then we’re disappointed. And especially in a season where we haven’t won a lot or not as much as people expect us to do then it’s just building up frustration and that came out probably after half-time. But I think the players and myself had the same frustration as the fans.”_
Slot doesn’t understand that the boos are not just because he took off Ngumoha
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Slot seemingly doesn’t recognise that, while fans were unhappy to see Ngumoha taken off, the reason for the boos is that the teenager was the only source of joy for Liverpool fans against Chelsea.
His assist for Ryan Gravenberch’s goal wasn’t as good as the strike itself, but the 17-year-old has been the most positive, attack-minded player for quite some time now.
With Alexander Isak not yet fit enough to show his class, Hugo Ekitike ruled out for the next nine months and Mohamed Salah on his way back from a hamstring injury, Ngumoha is the only attacker Liverpool have that seems capable of leading the charge.
Yet, the real issue is that Slot’s tactics and man-management have created a situation wherein if you remove Ngumoha from the field, there is very little worth getting excited about.