Liverpool seemed to be favorite to win the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United in Wembley, due to its undisputed leader in the Premier League. However, Eddie Howe's team then dominated without sharing, the goals of Dan Burn and Alexander Isak having been too much for the Reds, despite the purpose of Federico Chiesa in additional time, who beat Nick Pope. Questions were raised on the physical condition of Liverpool players after defeat, but Slot rejected these suggestions.
Not a question of fatigue
Asked about fatigue, Slot told the media, after seeing his team undergo an exhausting defeat on penalties against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last week: “ Mentally, it's always difficult to judge. Was we tired Tuesday, mentally or physically? No. But this match was not focused on the race; It was only duels, and there was no race intensity. We cannot therefore even judge whether we were tired, physically or not, because we could not press them.
“We can judge a team if it is tired and that it presses. But there was nothing to press because they played above our pressing. Whether they get a goal kick or a free kick-which was frequent in the first half-they systematically bring it back to our last line, which has given rise to many stopped kicks. »»
Slot, however, admitted that Liverpool had been dominated by Newcastle to Wembley and said that the Magpies deserved the victory.
“We were dominated in their style, yes, it's true. This is what one can call a domination. Yes, they won more duels than us. Is that what you mean? Is it a superiority? Or is it one of their greatest qualities to play so many air duels and win these physical duels? For me, being dominated is when you do not touch the ball and they pass us through every time we try to press them, every time we arrive too late. That's it, for me, to be dominated.
But I agree with you if you say they deserved to win because the match took place as they wanted. Yes, they deserved to win, but we did not just run after them. We had to defend a lot on the long balloons and the second balloons, and that is their strength. »»
Slot will now have to focus only on the championship, because Liverpool will want to avoid a late collapse to allow Arsenal to return to the title race. The Reds are 12 points ahead of the Gunners ten days from the end and will face their local rivals, Everton, during their next match after the international break.
