Earlier today, Arne Slot completed the second of his two-game domestic touchline ban as Liverpool mounted a comeback to defeat Southampton 3-1. Even though he couldn’t be pitch-side, Slot was able to deliver a crucial half-time pep talk to his players—and it turned out to be a game-changer!
Heading into the break, Liverpool was caught off-guard when Will Smallbone capitalized on an unusual mix-up between Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk, landing Southampton an unexpected lead despite being at the bottom of the Premier League table.
Predictably, Slot had some stern words for his squad during the interval.
Slot’s Half-Time Showdown
After the match, Mo Salah candidly shared how Slot didn’t hold back in expressing his dissatisfaction with Liverpool’s first-half performance, observed from his vantage point in the stands.
When asked whether the team received a dressing-down at half-time, the Egyptian star explained (via liverpoolfc.com): "Yes, there was a bit of frustration. The manager’s head was really coming for us—but that’s something you need sometimes."
"In the first half, we were sloppy, slow, and just taking our time, and then they managed to pull ahead right before half-time. But we’re more experienced now, and we managed that situation well—I’m glad we did."
(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
A Wake-Up Call Heeded
Liverpool may have had a grueling Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain just under three days ago, but there were no valid excuses for their lackluster start against Southampton, nor for the miscommunication that led to Smallbone’s goal.
While Liverpool’s commanding lead at the top of the Premier League might have cushioned the blow of dropped points, failing to secure a win against the season’s bottom team, who had managed just two victories in top-flight matches, would have been a reality check.
Fortunately, the players responded exactly how Slot would have envisioned. Darwin Nunez netted an equalizer, and Salah converted two penalties, moving him into an impressive third place on Liverpool’s all-time goalscoring leaderboard.
With his touchline ban served, Slot will return to his rightful place beside the pitch for Liverpool’s next domestic encounter. They have the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle in eight days. But first, there’s a tough job awaiting them in Paris against a feisty PSG on Tuesday!
