The decision to replace 17-year-old Ngumoha with Alexander Isak midway through the second half was met with a chorus of boos from the Liverpool faithful. Ngumoha had been the primary source of inspiration for the hosts, providing the assist for Ryan Gravenberch's opening goal, but Slot insisted the change was a necessity rather than a tactical preference.
"He's not injured; he had cramps a few minutes before that when he went to the floor," Slot explained to reporters after the match. "Then I had contact with him, and he said that it was enough, so that's why I took him off. It makes complete sense if you take a player off that is playing well and has assisted that people don't expect you to take that player off. That wasn't my intention to do."