Jamie Carragher said Liverpool’s win at Inter Milan was “huge” for Arne Slott and showed the fans support him.
Three points in the Champions League not only gave Slott a much-needed reprieve from the noise after a week in which he was embroiled in a public spat with Mohamed Salah, but it also strengthened the team’s position in Europe as Liverpool move into the top eight in the league and aim to qualify for the knockout stages.
Carragher said on CBS: “I was really hoping for Liverpool to win tonight, as they always do when they play, but especially for a manager given what he’s been through over the last few days.
“I don’t know him very well and we don’t really have a relationship, but he’s the manager of Liverpool.
“We know what happened and what was really impressive was that it was 0-0 in the first half and the supporters were shouting his name… they’re right behind the manager, especially with that result.
“This was a great result, it’s a tough place but Liverpool needed it considering they lost to PSV in their last home game in the Champions League.
“I’m more than happy for him. It’s been tough for him all season. As a manager, he has to work harder in terms of getting more results with the squad of players he has now, but it’s a big result for him and the club.”
“I’m very happy for him.”
Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after scoring a penalty against Inter Milan
Slott admits recent days have drained Liverpool’s ‘energy’
Liverpool boss Slott refused to draw an update on Salah, who was left out of the game after Saturday’s unusual outburst at Leeds, preferring instead to focus on the players who came to the San Siro to ensure a 1-0 win.
Slott said: “I think it was really tough for the players to concede in the last minute against Leeds. In my opinion, we had already played a very good game against Leeds. We conceded very few chances. Overall, in the last four games we conceded very few chances.”
“It was really tough to concede three goals and leave there with a draw. And it was already emotional. I think what happened afterwards was just as emotional. We probably expended a little bit of energy. It’s the fourth game in 10 days and we have 13 outfield players available with Premier League or Champions League experience, which shows the resilience of these players.”
“Obviously a lot of things are said and I think it always affects the team a little bit. If you’ve been in the dressing room you know, it’s the manager and the player with the club, but it usually affects the player a little bit too, especially because he’s so good and so influential for the club and the player. So I think it’s never good to see something like this happen to one of your teammates.
“All the focus should be on that tonight and I fully understand that when we go to the press conference again on Friday, all the questions will be about Mo, but now that we’re talking about them, I think they deserve it.”
Slot: Who will take the lead, me or Salah?
Slott questioned whether Salah understood that his recent comments were a mistake and suggested it would be up to the player to start talks with Salah to return to the Liverpool team.
Slott clarified his comments at a press conference, suggesting he was not implying that Salah should take the lead.
“Obviously, a lot of things are being said and I think that always affects the team a little bit,” Slott told Amazon Prime after the game.
“If you’ve been in the dressing room you know it’s about the manager and the players with the club, but it usually affects the players a little bit too, especially because he’s so good and so influential.
“It’s never nice to see something like this happen to one of your teammates.
“Everyone makes mistakes in life, so the first thing you have to think about is: Does the player think he made a mistake too?
“Then the next question is, does the initiative come from me or from him? That’s another question to answer. But as I said, the focus tonight should be about Virgil (van Dijk), for example, because the fans are singing for him.”
