Slot praises squad mentality with Liverpool on brink of league title
Liverpool did not make things easy in their 2-1 win over West Ham United but the players showed exceptional mentality to bounce back from a late equaliser to seal the three points, manager Arne Slot said as they inched closer to the title.
After Luis Diaz had opened the scoring, West Ham grew into the game and grabbed an equaliser in the 86th minute from an Andy Robertson own goal before skipper Virgil van Dijk powered home a header three minutes later.
With a 13-point lead over second-placed Arsenal, Liverpool need just two wins from their last six games to win a second Premier League title and a first trophy under Slot having lost the League Cup final last month.
“That is what we’ve done the whole season. After the disappointment of being knocked out by PSG in the Champions League, we show up again, show up every three days, with this mentality,” Slot told Sky Sports.
“We don’t win games the easy way. The easy way is taking control of the ball, pass it around five times and we have a goal and the next goal and the next goal.
“If we achieve something this year, it’s mainly to do with the mentality the players have shown. That’s what you saw today as well.”
Liverpool have lost only two league games this season, with their second defeat coming last weekend at Fulham.
Slot said he was worried they would drop points again when West Ham grew into the game in the second half and hailed goalkeeper Alisson for keeping Liverpool in the contest with some crucial saves.
“Very difficult second half, we needed Alisson because Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus were incredible the whole game,” Slot said.
“Then we conceded… with an own goal. How much more disappointment can you get after what happened last week? Getting the goal with Virgil shows you how much mentality these boys have.
“It’s not only us. I saw the result when I came in, Chelsea v Ipswich, 2-2. There’s no one who wins a game of football that easily because this league is so strong now. You have to put so much effort to bring your wins over the line.“—Reuters
