Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed a mixture of satisfaction and frustration following his team’s 1-0 victory over Girona in the Champions League. While pleased with securing their sixth consecutive win in the competition, ensuring a top-eight finish and avoiding a playoff round, Slot was far from impressed with his team’s performance. He criticized their lack of intensity and aggressiveness, particularly when facing a team like Girona, known for their skillful ball movement and build-up play. Slot emphasized the need for greater intensity to disrupt such teams, drawing comparisons to previous encounters with Manchester City and Real Madrid. He lamented Liverpool’s passive approach, allowing Girona too much space and opportunities to threaten their goal. He acknowledged Girona’s quality and felt they deserved more points in the competition.
Slot’s frustration stemmed from two key areas: Liverpool’s inability to effectively counter Girona’s passing game and their lack of aggression upon losing possession. He felt his team was too easily outplayed, allowing Girona to create numerous scoring chances. This passivity contrasted sharply with the intensity Slot demands from his players, especially against teams proficient in ball retention. The manager pointed out how easily Girona transitioned from defense to attack each time Liverpool lost the ball, creating consistent threats on goal. This lack of control over the game was a major concern for Slot, although he noted a slight improvement in the second half.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker, returning from a two-month injury layoff, earned praise from Slot for his crucial role in preserving the clean sheet. Alisson made five key saves, demonstrating his importance to the team. Slot jokingly remarked that perhaps Liverpool players wanted to test Alisson’s fitness by giving him plenty of work. However, he reiterated Alisson’s status as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper, highlighting his consistent excellence and acknowledging Alisson’s crucial contribution to Liverpool over the years. While commending backup goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher’s performances during Alisson’s absence, Slot reaffirmed Alisson’s seniority and world-class ability.
The return of Alisson relegated Kelleher back to the bench, despite the latter expressing his desire to leave Liverpool for more playing time. Kelleher’s solid performances throughout Alisson’s injury spell, barring a minor setback against Newcastle, were not enough to retain his starting position. Alisson’s return coincided with Liverpool’s impressive form, having lost only once all season, boasting a four-point lead in the Premier League and securing a favorable Champions League position. This strong position allows Liverpool to avoid the two-legged play-off round in February, a crucial advantage given their demanding fixture list, which includes a Premier League clash against Manchester City shortly after the play-off window. While City potentially faces a play-off match, Liverpool can rest and prepare, strategically managing player fitness.
Despite the positive results, Slot expressed mild concern about the team’s performance against Girona. Playing in front of a limited crowd due to stadium renovations, with only a small contingent of dedicated Liverpool fans present (who had qualified for tickets by attending at least 27 away European matches since 2017), Liverpool struggled to impose themselves. Joe Gomez, making his 235th appearance for the club, came close to scoring his first goal but was denied by Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga. Darwin Nunez also missed several opportunities, continuing his recent goal drought, a source of frustration for both player and manager. Slot acknowledged Nunez’s struggles, noting that all strikers go through periods of both prolific scoring and frustrating misses. He expressed confidence in other players stepping up to score, as Mohamed Salah did with the winning penalty.
The match remained goalless until the second half when a VAR review led to a penalty being awarded to Liverpool for a foul on Luis Diaz. Salah converted the penalty, securing the victory for Liverpool. Slot reflected on Liverpool’s overall performance and acknowledged that he hadn’t anticipated such a strong start to his tenure as manager. The team’s resilience, demonstrated by their ability to grind out results even when not playing at their best, is a testament to their character and potential. While there were areas for improvement, Slot remained optimistic about the team’s prospects, both domestically and in Europe.
