Arne Slot has explained the triple half-time substitution he “had to” make that helped Liverpool come from behind, to beat Southampton 3-1 in the Premier League.

Liverpool may have had 75 percent possession in the first half, but they looked lethargic when the ball turned over.

From up on high, Slot could tell something needed to change, with his team trailing to Will Smallbone’s goal in injury time of the first half.

“I didn’t give them compliments at half-time, I can tell you,” Slot began when asked about his triple substitution.

“Maybe it was because I was sitting up there (in the stands) instead of being at the line, because I know from experience that when you watch a game over there you feel like, ‘Oh, maybe I can even play in this game’.

“If you’re then at the line, it’s always more tempo, but I don’t think I was wrong this time if I said at half-time that energy levels were far, far, far too low.

“And that is what I had to change and that is why we made three substitutions just to, apart from bringing in quality, just to create something, because nine out of 10 times when you take three out, the other eight are like, ‘Ooh, something else should happen’.

“And that’s the only thing I could come up with at half-time to create something different for the second half.”

Andy Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott all came on at the break.

The three players to come off were Kostas Tsimikas, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones. The latter two also played against PSG on Wednesday.

Though Tsimikas didn’t feature in the Champions League first leg, he was also brought off because Slot knew Robertson “always creates something with his energy, with his mentality, not only in the team but also with the fans.”

The Greek left-back was also on a yellow card. Nunez, too, had received a first-half booking, but he remained on the pitch.

After scoring the equaliser and winning the penalty for Mo Salah‘s first goal, the Uruguayan was replaced by Diogo Jota.

Slot commented: “In the end I took him (Nunez) off because he was on yellow, but I always hate the idea [when] we need to score goals to take someone off that can score a goal.

“That’s why it wasn’t in my mind to take him off because I was already planning on after these three, if we don’t score a goal then Jota needs to come in then we have to go even more offensive.

“With Cody (Gakpo) being out, it isn’t like we have that many attacking options, so that’s why I took a certain risk of keeping him – a No. 9 that is on yellow is different than Kostas.”

The head coach then noted that Mac Allister also made a difference in the second half.

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“There is a reason why Macca is a World Cup winner, because he always shows up when you need him in terms of mentality and that’s also definitely what he brought in the second half,” Slot added.

Though the boss did admit he would have started a different side with hindsight, it was pleasing to see him able to clearly affect the match despite not being on the touchline.

Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff will be back in the dugout for the second leg against PSG on Tuesday.

Liverpool 3-1 Southampton

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Arne Slot admitted a rare regret over his starting lineup for Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Southampton, most notably his decision not to start Harvey Elliott.

Slot made three changes for the visit of Southampton but was forced to make three more at half-time as his side went in 1-0 down.

A sluggish first half at Anfield prompted the head coach – who watched from the stands due to suspension – to replace Kostas Tsimikas, Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai with Andy Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister and Elliott.

Elliott may have been disappointed not to start given his match-winning heroics in midweek and, speaking after the game, Slot suggested in hindsight he felt he should have.

“It’s always a difficult decision not to start Harvey, not to start Wata, not to start all the other ones that I don’t play,” he told reporters.

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“But if someone comes in for five minutes, touches his first ball and scores a goal, then to change your whole idea about all the lineups you made before, that would be a bit weird as well.

“So yeah, he had a good impact on the game [against PSG], today he had again a good impact on the game.

“That’s why he got 45 minutes today as well, because he did so well in Paris.

“There’s also a reason why I play so many times the other ones, and all the time they deserved that trust.

“But today, if I could do it one more time over, I would have started it differently than I started, but you don’t know this in advance.”

Elliott is still yet to start a game in the Premier League this season and has only done so four times in all competitions, with his tally of 552 minutes the fewest of any senior player bar Federico Chiesa (370).

That does a disservice to the 21-year-old’s quality, but Slot was full of praise for his attitude regardless, comparing him to Wataru Endo.

“What it is with him is also with other players, they are in competition with so many good players and that makes it sometimes difficult to make a lineup,” he explained.

“But it always helps to bring in performances like this – and also Wata, he came in 15 minutes before the end and again he showed how important he is for this team.

“[Harvey] trains really well. I said many times about Wata, I can say the same about Harvey, hardly any playing time but just keeps on going.

“And then when your moment comes, then you can show your quality.

“That’s the biggest compliment I can give him, but also the biggest compliment about what he brings to the team is that he just kept on going.

“I’ve experienced more than enough players who, if they are in the same situation as him or Wata, they start to do less and less, and when I played them you would probably not have asked me why I didn’t play them.

“This is the situation we want as a team and it makes it sometimes difficult for me, that’s true.”

Cody Gakpo fitness update

It is certainly true that Elliott’s opportunity was aided by the absence of Cody Gakpo, with Slot asked if his fellow Dutchman had been fit enough to make the squad.

“No, otherwise I would have taken him, because this was the most important game of the week, like I told you. The first of three finals,” he replied.

“So if he would have been able I would definitely have had him on the bench. But unfortunately, he wasn’t.

“But I do hope the two next finals we play a bit better than the first one.”

Liverpool 3-1 Southampton

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After Liverpool beat Southampton 3-1, Mo Salah revealed how Arne Slot laid into the players at half time when they were trailing at Anfield.

Liverpool ran out relatively comfortable winners in the end on Saturday. However, the game against 20th-place Southampton wasn’t without its difficulties.

Ivan Juric’s team took the lead just before the break, as Will Smallbone capitalised on a rare mix-up between Alisson and Van Dijk.

While the Reds had 75 percent possession in the first half, they failed to create clear-cut chances, leaving Slot frustrated with his team’s performance.

Asked what the coach said at half time, Salah told PL Productions: “[It was] a bit of frustration. The manager was gone. His head was like going for us, but it’s something you need sometimes because I think first half, the game was sloppy.

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“We just were slow and just taking our time, then last minute, they managed to [score before half time].

“But we are now more experienced, we can manage that situation and I’m glad that we did.”

This matched up with what the coach himself recounted.

“I didn’t give them compliments at half time, I can tell you,” Slot explained.

“I don’t think I was wrong this time if I said at half time that energy levels were far, far, far too low, and that is what I had to change and that’s why we made three substitutions.”

Performance of champions

With Harvey Elliott, Andy Robertson and Alexis Mac Allister coming on for Curtis Jones, Kostas Tsimikas and Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool were much improved after the break.

Darwin Nunez prodded home the equaliser in the 51st minute before winning the penalty, three minutes later, to set up Salah for his first of the afternoon.

The Egyptian commented on Nunez’s importance, saying: “He’s a very important player for us. I’m always there talking to him because his head’s sometimes gone, but it’s very important.

“We need him and you saw him also last game against PSG, he was very important also when he came in [to] make a difference. So yeah, good for him.”

Late on, Salah scored again from the spot to seal a type of victory that he believes is a sign Liverpool will win the league.

“It was a tough game. They had a good game plan. It worked well first half for them but I’m glad that we managed to come back in the second half and win the game,” the No. 11 added.

“I don’t think we played good today, I don’t think.

“Maybe second half, we played a bit better but, first half, we didn’t play well at all. But if you want to win the Champions League or the Premier League, you have to win that kind of game.”

Liverpool 3-1 Southampton

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As top face bottom in the Premier League, Liverpool will “do whatever it takes” to beat Southampton, says Arne Slot.

On paper, this is Liverpool’s easiest fixture of their 38 in the Premier League this season.

As we know, though, football isn’t played on paper and Slot is well aware that there will need to be “total focus” from his side.

Writing in the Liverpool vs. Southampton pre-match programme, Slot said: “This is a game that comes on the back of a very testing Champions League match away in Paris and because of the quick turnaround it is clear that we will have to dig deep to go again.

“This is not a complaint, it is just our reality. We do not get to make excuses and nor do we want to. We just have to do whatever it takes to give ourselves the best possible chance of getting a positive result.

“Again, if you are a team that wants to go hard in the Premier League and the Champions League – which we are – this is an obligation.”

Liverpool have already played Southampton twice this season, winning both games away by one goal.

They won 2-1 in the League Cup, but in November’s league match, Liverpool actually went behind in the second half before coming back to triumph 3-2.

“Southampton are a team who have given us a big test already this season,” Slot added.

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“Our fixture at St Mary’s was very tight, as the result demonstrated, and it was yet another occasion when the strength of the Premier League was shown because we were pushed all the way, even if expectations outside of ourselves had been that it would be a much more straightforward game.

“That experience will help us today but only if we use the information in the right way. We should expect Southampton to fight every inch of the way once again.

“We should be prepared for them to look to take advantage of any weaknesses we might show.

“And we should know that they have the quality to cause problems for any opponent, as has been shown on many occasions this season regardless of what the league table might say.”

This will be the Saints’ fourth visit to Anfield since November 2021 and each time they have arrived with a different manager.

Ivan Juric is the man in the dugout on this occasion as his opposite number, Slot, calls the shots from the stands.

Should Liverpool beat Southampton, they would go 16 points clear of Arsenal having played twice more than the Gunners.

Arsenal have a game on Sunday at 4.30pm, against Man United at Old Trafford.

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Arne Slot could be without up to four senior players for Southampton‘s visit on Saturday, with Cody Gakpo‘s involvement still under serious doubt.

It is back to Anfield for Liverpool after their testing midweek trip to Paris Saint-Germain, an outing that would have taken a toll despite the buoyant nature of the 1-0 win.

Slot has hinted at rotation to get the job done against the Premier League‘s cellar-dwellers, but he will again be forced to watch from the stands as he serves his second and final match ban.

Here’s a look at who is out and who is available for Saturday’s 3pm (GMT) kickoff:

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Gakpo made the trip to Paris on Wednesday but did not make the 23-man matchday squad after a painful knock to his ankle that aggravated his previous injury.

When speaking on Friday morning, Gakpo had yet to return to training to lead Slot to say it will be a “close call” over whether he can be involved against the Saints.

“It’s not a long-term injury, but he still had a bit of pain yesterday so he was not able to train,” Slot explained.

He is the only known player in doubt as Gomez, Bradley and Morton all still remain sidelined after injuries earlier this year.

Gomez underwent surgery on his hamstring at the end of last month and a brief update from Slot saw him explain that the defender is “out now for three months.”

The Dutchman did not offer specifics as to whether that is from now or from the point of injury, but he is facing an uphill battle to be available before the end of the season.

As for selection against Southampton, Slot did hint that rotation is on the cards after his side suffered against PSG and with this the first of three games in nine days.

“If I make the choice to play other players, that is because I think that’s the biggest chance to win the game tomorrow and not because I want to rest them for the game against Paris Saint-Germain,” the Reds boss said.

• READ: LFC lineup vs. Southampton after Slot’s strong rotation hint

Liverpool’s available squad vs. Southampton

Goalkeepers: Alisson, Kelleher, Jaros

Defenders: Van Dijk, Quansah, Konate, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Tsimikas

Midfielders: Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Jones, Elliott, Endo, McConnell, Nyoni

Forwards: Salah, Diaz, Nunez, Jota, Gakpo*, Chiesa

* Doubtful

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Liverpool can break one goalscoring record and equal another if they find the net twice against Southampton at Anfield.

The Reds have scored exactly two goals in each of their last six league games. Never in their history have they done so in seven.

Moreover, Liverpool have scored at least twice in each of their last 18 home games in all competitions.

The last English top-flight side to have a longer run were Sunderland, who did so in 19 consecutive matches between February and December 1935.

Arne Slot‘s side are also seeking a third successive league clean sheet for the first time since the opening three matches of the season. A lot on the line as first meets 20th!

Salah eyes Sergio Aguero in all-time charts

Another game, another chance for Salah to take the headlines.

Should he score once, he will equal Ian Rush’s club record of 10 league goals against Southampton.

It will also see him move into outright third-place on the club’s all-time goalscorers list ahead of Gordon Hodgson, with 242.

If he scores twice, however, he will move into joint-fifth place on the Premier League‘s all-time goalscorers list, alongside Sergio Aguero on 184.

Time to finally win on this day

The Reds have played 22 times on this day, winning last in 2008 when they beat Newcastle 3-0 at Anfield. James Milner, Michael Owen and Jose Enrique were all in the Magpies’ line-up.

Liverpool have not scored in three outings on this date since.

The Reds, however, have won 11 consecutive home league fixtures against newly-promoted sides, scoring 38 goals and conceding eight since a 1-0 loss to Fulham in March 2021.

Revolving door at Southampton

This will be Saints’ fourth visit to Anfield since November 2021, each time they have arrived with a different manager.

Ivan Juric will be the sixth different man in charge of a Southampton team against the Reds in the last seven matches, with Russell Martin being at the helm for the league match last November and Simon Rusk in interim charge for the Carabao Cup the following month.

Southampton have picked up fewer points on the road this season than any other team in the top-flight. They have amassed 5 points from 14 away matches, winning once, at Ipswich last month.

Saints have conceded more goals than any other Premier League team this season (65) and have the worst goal difference (-46).

This season’s scorers so far

Liverpool: Salah 30, Gakpo 16, Diaz 13, Jota 8, Szoboszlai 7, Nunez 6, Mac Allister 5, Elliott 4, Alexander-Arnold 3, Jones 3, Van Dijk 3, Konate 2, Chiesa 1, Danns 1

Southampton: Archer 5 (2), Dibling 4 (2), Aribo 3 (3), A. Armstrong 3 (2), Harwood-Bellis 3 (1), Bednarek 2 (2), Bree 2 (0), Mateus Fernandes 2 (1), Onuachu 2 (2), Sulemana 2 (1), Amo-Ameyaw 1 (0), Downes 1 (1), Sugawara 1 (1), own goals 1

* Stats courtesy of LFC statistician Ged Rea (@ged0407).

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