Jamie Carragher says Liverpool’s win at Inter Milan was “massive” for Arne Slot and showed the fans are behind him.
The three points in the Champions League not only provided a much-needed reprieve from the noise surrounding Slot during a week in which he was embroiled in a public fallout with Mohamed Salah, but also strengthened his side’s position in Europe as Liverpool pursue qualification for the knockout rounds by climbing into the top eight at the league stage.
Carragher said on CBS: “I desperately wanted Liverpool to win tonight, as I do every time they play, but what they’ve been through in the last few days has made them even more desperate.”
“I don’t know him very well and have no real relationship with him, but he is the manager of Liverpool.
“We know what happened and what was really impressive was that the supporters chanted his name when it was 0-0 at half-time… they were right behind the manager and even more so after the result.
“It was a huge result, a difficult place to be and Liverpool needed it because they had last lost at home to PSV in the Champions League.
“I’m more than happy for him. It’s been a difficult season. As a manager he has to do better to get more results from the squad he has, but this is a great result for him and the club.”
“I’m really happy for him.”
Liverpool’s Dominic Szoboszlai celebrates after scoring a penalty kick against Inter Milan.
Slott admitted Liverpool’s ‘energy’ has been sacrificed over the past few days.
Liverpool boss Sloth refused to engage in an update on Salah, with the player ruled out of the match following his massive outburst following Saturday’s draw with Leeds, and instead wanted to focus on the players who were at the San Siro and featured in the 1-0 win.
Slott said: “I think it was really difficult for the players to concede in the last minute against Leeds, who had already played very well. We gave up very few chances. In the last four games we have given up very few chances.
“It was really difficult to give up three goals and leave with a draw. And it was already emotional. And what happened after that was also emotional. I think we need some energy. For the fourth game in 10 days, 13 outfield players with Premier League or Champions League experience are available, which shows the resilience of these players.”
“Of course there’s a lot of talk going on and I think that always affects the team a little bit as well. If you’ve ever been in a locker room you know, it’s about the manager or the player at the club, but it usually affects the players a little bit too, especially because he’s so good and has such an influence on the club and the players, so I don’t think it’s ever a good thing to see something like that happen to one of your team-mates.
“All the focus should be on that tonight. When we go back to the press conference on Friday, I totally understand that all the questions will be about Mo, but I think these guys deserve it now that we’re talking about them.”
Slot: Should the initiative come from me or Salah?
Slot questioned whether Salah understood his recent comments were a mistake and suggested it was up to the player to initiate talks with him about a return to the Liverpool team.
Slott clarified his comments at the press conference, suggesting he was not implying that Salah should make the first move.
“Of course, a lot is being said, and I think that always has a little bit of an impact on the team.” Slot said after the game with Amazon Prime..
“Anyone who’s been in a locker room knows it’s about the manager or the player at the club, but it usually has a bit of an impact on the players as well, especially because he’s so good and so influential.
“It’s never nice to see something like this happen to one of your teammates.
“Everyone makes mistakes in life, so the first thing to ask is whether the player thinks he made a mistake too.
“So the next question is should the initiative come from me? Or should it come from him? Now that’s another question to answer. But as I said, the focus tonight should be on Virgil (Van Dijk), for example, because the fans are singing for him.”
