There was no urgency from Liverpool against Southampton. I’ve been there as a manager and a player and I think when it’s top vs bottom, you subconsciously expect things to happen for themselves. You don’t make them happen.
The players didn’t mean it but I think that’s what happened. They took it in their stride as one of those games they were going to win so didn’t give as much as they should. The first half was dire.
By all accounts, Arne went ballistic to them and rightly so. Sometimes you need a kick up the backside as players. There were quite a few who could have come off at half-time.
READ MORE: Arne Slot responds to PSG dressing room claims about Liverpool Champions League pedigree
The ones he took off, he took off for a reason. But it had the right effect. Strong words, you hit a nerve in players, the Kop responded and then within 10 minutes of the second half, we were back on track.
When you're on the sideline, you can actually vent your anger and get it across. But Arne was stuck in the stands so it was building up and building up and building up.
So when you go into the dressing room, you’re ready to explode. And obviously that's what's happened. But thankfully he did it.
Other managers might not have done it. The modern day player, you’ve got to be careful. Some need a pat on the back, others need a kick up the backside and you’ve got to work it out. I'm not averse to what he's done because sometimes it’s got to be done.
Slot surprised me
I went on Twitter at half-time and said I thought Tsimikas should come off because he was struggling badly. His confidence was down as well.
And Nunez as well because it was off the cuff but it was a very stupid challenge. He was getting stick off their fans, he knows what they’re on about because you’ve seen he gave them the hush sign.
He has to be so careful because if he had been sent off, it could have cost us two points. You’ve got to learn from that. It’s good to see players have that response, but you do have to tone it down.
It’s easy for me to say, I was a nutter at times when I played. I understand but I thought he would have subbed him at half-time but he didn’t. Whatever he said to Nunez, he did well. He did a lot better in the second half.
He’s got increased competition now though. It’s good to have Gakpo back in training. He’s an option and we do need options all over the pitch.
To have all our forwards fit now, even Chiesa, it gives Arne Slot the option to do something different to the opposition if things start to go wrong. Gives them something else to muse upon, and he does it well, Gakpo.
His goalscoring this season has been really good. It’s what we expected when he came, especially from that left-wing position rather down the middle. He’s had a really good season.
Title talk
It was a good result for us on Sunday, between Manchester United and Arsenal. I wanted the draw to be quite honest. You know the score, I’m old-school, the way it is between the two of us. I couldn’t bring myself to want United to win!
But it was a good result for Liverpool and probably a fair result too. It’s knocked Arsenal back a couple of points. I thought they would win but it showed where they are at the moment. They’re blunt upfront and it’s costing them.
This week, John Aldridge's weekly ECHO column was taken from his special appearance on " target="_blank" class="link"> the Blood Red podcast.
