Slot admits he wanted to sub ‘almost everyone’ off after first-half display against Brighton | OneFootball

Arne Slot admits he wanted to substitute “almost everyone” in his team at half-time of their 2-1 win over Brighton.

Despite a lacklustre first half, where Liverpool found themselves trailing after Ferdi Kadioglu’s early goal inside 15 minutes, Arne Slot’s side emerged with renewed purpose after the break.

Cody Gakpo’s equaliser in the 69th minute, a whipped cross that caught Brighton’s keeper Bart Verbruggen off guard, provided a much needed momentum shift. Just two minutes later, Curtis Jones released Salah on the right, with the Egyptian cutting inside to deliver a trademark finish into the top corner that’s now making the Egyptian 164 Goals in the Premier League.

“We did not show up, at all, in any part of the game, except from maybe the set pieces part, bit for the rest we were not there,” Slot said of his side’s first-half performance.

“If you face a very good team like Brighton it is not enough to run once, twice or three times, you have to keep on running.

“We changed a bit of tactics but that had nothing to do in ball possession, in us coming out stronger in the second half, it all had to do with the players showing a different attitude and a different intensity.

“I said a few things but it wasn’t that I was screaming, it’s just making sure that the players understand that this was not enough and I think they felt it themselves as well.

“In the second half I don’t think anyone deserved to be taken out, but in the first half almost everyone deserved to be taken off.”

Brighton had the chance to double their lead in the first half when Yasin Ayari’s precise through-ball set up Georginio Rutter, but Liverpool’s Caoimhín Kelleher produced a crucial save to keep his team in contention.

Reflecting on the comeback, head coach Arne Slot emphasized the team’s resilience. “A lot has happened this season: defending leads, fighting back. Wins like this are what you need to stay competitive because you won’t always be the best team on the pitch.

“Today, we showed that fighting spirit.

“We came back twice against Arsenal and twice fought back here. To come from behind against a quality team like Brighton, who have a strong squad and top managers, gives me confidence,” Slot concluded.