A happy Arne Slot met with the media following Liverpool’s emphatic 3-0 win over Brighton. He said he thinks Domonik Szoboszlai is one of the best players in the world, discussed Salah’s contributions to the team and admits he enjoyed playing without VAR for a change.
Szoboszlai Performace Elite
Domonik Szoboszlai has been the steadiest player on the Liverpool roster all season. When the playof others dipped, his stayed steady or even improved. He has taken an even bigger step forward in recent days, drawing praise from Salah, who said that Szoboszlai was one of the best players in the world.
“I think there are a lot of very good to elite football players in the world, but I definitely agree with Mo that Dominik is one of them,” Slot said. “When I said that [a Liverpool midfielder needing to score goals] I maybe had to add that you need to be able to run a lot if you play in the midfield of Liverpool. But I think what I meant was as a No.10, you also need to produce goals. Now he hasn't always played in the No.10 position, but he is producing more and more goals.”
Salah Steps Up
As noted after the match, Salah is the only EPL player to have 15 games with both a goal and an assist since the start of last season.
“It's very nice to have him on the scoresheet again and him having an assist,” Slot said. “But I think what I like the most at the moment, that he's scoring goals is something you can almost expect, but he also helps the team a lot defensively. That is something very positive – what the team also needs – and I think more and more players are now capable of playing at this intensity level every three days. That is where we struggled a lot in the beginning of the season, where it was sometimes hard for us to bring the intensity level once a week, let alone every three days. But now we're able to do so, we see more and more the quality we have. That's why I've said so many times already that the future looks really bright for this club with these players, and I think the recent seven, eight, nine, 10 games are showing that as well.”
No VAR? No Problem
It was like a blast from the past as the tie was played without VAR and Slot welcomed the experience.
“In general, I enjoy watching football without VAR because if you then score you're like, 'It's a goal' so that was the same with the [disallowed Gakpo goal],” Slot said. “I looked at the linesman and he didn't raise his flag so I was like, 'That's nice' but then a few seconds later he did raise his flag, which was correct. I like VAR only for the clear and obvious things, only go to offside yes or no, ball over the line yes or no and for the rest the referee referees the game. That's my opinion, but that's not going to happen. That's the way I would like the VAR to be.”
LFC Globe Verdict
Slot was in a good mood after the match, laughing and joking with reporters, as well he might after a 3-0 win. His analysis of Salah and Szoboszlai’s performances were spot on, and I like that he is old school regarding VAR. I think it leaves the game more open and free-flowing. Now the Reds have a few days to savour this victory before getting back to the grind of the EPL
