Arne Slot, the new manager of Liverpool, dismissed the obvious upset shown by Trent Alexander-Arnold at being subbed during their 2-0 victory over Brentford at Anfield. Slot reassured that it’s their duty to ensure Alexander-Arnold’s wellbeing.
Replacing the England international with Conor Bradley after 72 minutes, Alexander-Arnold seemed visibly dissatisfied with the decision. However, Slot justified his actions, pointing out that even though every player yearns to play for a full 90 minutes, football is a team game, and not all decisions please everyone.
Slot highlighted that Alexander-Arnold, who recently returned from a tournament with the national team, only played the third match after a few weeks’ breaks. He emphasized the need to look after him as they require his services throughout the season, and not just for the initial few games.
Yet, Slot expressed contentment at having a good sub in Conor, thus ensuring Trent’s welfare. The manager also praised Trent’s overall gameplay.
Slot’s first match at Anfield ended in a 2-0 victory, courtesy of goals by Luis Díaz and Mohamed Salah, making this his second win after his debut success at Ipswich Town.
When asked about his reception, Slot mentioned that the warmth at Anfield mirrors what he experienced around the training ground. He added that all managers would likely say they sense the club’s appreciation and strive to match its style of play.
Even boasting two promising wins does not mean they’ve arrived, Slot warned. He honoured both Ipswich and Brentford for their performances against Liverpool but did not imagine them ending the season in the top six. He stressed that despite the encouraging start with two wins and two clean sheets, Liverpool still has much to prove over the forthcoming season.
Inheriting an extraordinary team and individual players has been a rewarding experience, says the manager. Not surprisingly, their excellent performance reflects their exceptional ability. Salah has managed to net two goals, while Díaz and Jota have scored one goal each. According to Slot, the main aim is to position these talented players like Díaz, Salah, and Núñez in attacking roles to enhance their performance.
Ivan Toney, a player that Brentford is considering selling, was noticeably absent from Thomas Frank’s selection of 20 players for the match. When questioned about a potential departure for Toney, Frank revealed, “I have yet to discuss this with Phil [Giles, Brentford’s football director] in the past few days. He’s been training well and has a great attitude.”
Brentford’s attack seemed to lack sharpness without Toney. Captain Christian Norgaard missed the target with an unguarded header, and Nathan Collins’ attempt was thwarted by goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Frank praised his team’s effort against Liverpool. “I believe we held our own against a strong team like Liverpool, particularly during the evenly-matched first half — a performance I am extremely satisfied with.” He added, “This was probably our finest first-half play at Anfield in the last four years I’ve been here. Although Liverpool rightly won the match, I still hold a positive outlook, especially considering our stelliferous performance in the initial 60 minutes.”