Newcastle fans have reacted fiercely to Arne Slot’s post-match comments following Liverpool’s 100th-minute win at St James’ Park on Monday. Despite Anthony Gordon’s red card at the conclusion of the first half, the Magpies dominated the game for much of it, but they failed to capitalize on their chances and were left pointless when Rio Ngumoha came off the bench to snatch victory in the dying embers.
Despite the fact that the hosts failed to win anything, Jamie Carragher lauded them, claiming that the superior team lost on the night. However, Reds manager Slot provided a contrary viewpoint that did not go down well with Newcastle fans.
Slot’s Newcastle comments prompt a strong reaction.
Slot was asked a question by Sky Sports presenter Dave Jones after the game, which he had previously described as one of the most exciting football contests in recent memory. However, the Dutchman claimed that there was not much football being played, which appeared to be a jab at Newcastle’s style of play.
This is not the first time Eddie Howe’s side has faced criticism for their approach; Mikel Arteta has done so in the past. However, Slot appeared to double down on the notion, saying:
“I believe I heard you accurately. You said “football match.” I am not sure if I saw a football match today. It was set-piece after set-piece, long throws, and it had little to do with strategy, as I stated before the game. But I really appreciated how firmly we stood. The first half hour was really challenging, lasting 45 minutes. However, we did not collapse at all. We stood firm and won 1-0.
“Going down to ten men, as you would imagine, is a huge advantage for us. But when a goalie takes every free-kick, there’s not much help if you’re one guy ahead, which is why it was so difficult for us.”
Slot’s choice to criticize Newcastle’s style of play and claim they relied on set-pieces despite being at a numerical disadvantage for more than half of the game did not go over well with fans online. One person commented on the video, stating, “Really nasty words from Slot. There’s no shame in playing straight football if it gives you the best chance of winning. Why should Newcastle adopt a style that suits him? It demonstrates his lack of tactical nous if he and his team are unable to deal with that style.”
A second said, “You play a football match in the method that works best for you. What did he expect Newcastle to do with ten men? Attempt to make their way around? Stupid statement,” while a third added, “I see Arne Slot is calling us a nasty long ball squad. “He’s really picked up on Klopp, hasn’t he?”
A fourth commented, adding, “Arne Slot on Sky Sports mocking Newcastle by saying we ‘didn’t play football’ is completely insane.” We played much better football for 80 minutes tonight,” while a fifth shared a similar sentiment by saying: “Hugely disrespectful interview with Arne Slot with Sky just now making out we basically hoofed the ball up from keeper to [Dan] Burn all game. We were more than that; we were the better team for the majority of the game!”
A sixth added: “Slot said ‘absolutely no tactics in today’s game’ and that it wasn’t football. The thing is, Arne, you’ve just been strategically outclassed AGAIN by Eddie Howe, who manages ten men. Football is football. Delusional and sad reaction to his side getting away with it,” while a seventh summarised: “Poor from him this. They used a few dark arts tactics themselves and required a 16-year-old to save them against ten men. A little more class is required here, Arne.”
Slot may be even more concerned that Liverpool squandered a two-goal lead for the second time in three games, with defensive flaws and midfield deficiencies once again revealed as major concerns in the Dutchman’s second-season revolution at Anfield.
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