Liverpool boss Arne Slot revealed that a blunt half-time team talk was the catalyst behind his side’s 2-1 victory over Brighton.
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Liverpool trailed Brighton at half-timeSlot furious with his team's performanceHalf-time pep talk turned tide for RedsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Liverpool struggled from the outset, with Brighton quickly taking advantage and scoring through Ferdi Kadioglu. The Reds seemed out of sync, missing chances and then running out of ideas in attack that ultimately left Slot furious as he stormed down the tunnel after the first half. He did not mince words when discussing the lacklustre display with his players in the dressing room and attributed the uninspired performance to a shortage of energy and focus.
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Slot admitted to giving his players a reality check during the break, although he insisted that his tone was firm rather than overly aggressive.
"First of all, credit to Brighton the way they showed up over here," he told reporters. "They showed a lot of composure, they were not afraid to play. They play out from the back really well. A lot of energy without the ball. And we didn’t show up at all, in every part of the game, maybe except for the set-pieces part.
"So, we changed a bit of tactics but that had nothing to do with ball possession, that had nothing to do with us coming out stronger in the second half, it all had to do that the players showed a different attitude and different intensity. Therefore, I said a few things and we showed a few things, but it wasn’t that I was screaming or fuming around. It’s just making sure the players understand that this was not enough, and I think they felt it themselves as well."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The Liverpool squad responded to Slot's half-time message with a renewed intensity, showing noticeable improvement immediately in the second half. Key players like Alexis Mac Allister, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah all missed clear chances to equalise, but the momentum was building. The Dutch manager adjusted Liverpool’s tactics to add a more aggressive and forward-thinking edge, which proved to be the right call as Cody Gakpo and Salah finally broke through to find the back of the net, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory.
Getty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?
With this win, Slot has now etched his name in Liverpool history, recording the most victories of any Liverpool manager in their first 10 Premier League games, with an impressive tally of eight. During this period, the Reds have scored 19 goals and shipped just six.