Liverpool started the defense of his Premier League title on Friday in an entertaining 4-2 victory over Bournemouth, with manager Arne Slot bowed through the atmosphere on an emotional Anfield evening while two late goals stole the show.
«Do you have half an hour?» The Dutchman said laughing when he was asked to summarize a night who started with a tribute to the Portugal attacker of the club Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident last month.
Liverpool Talisman Mo Salah and replacement Federico Chiesa struck after the double Drew Bournemouth level of Antoine Semenyo.
«Incredible atmosphere in the last minutes,» said Slot.
“I thought winning the competition here (last season) would always be more special than winning a home game against Bournemouth, but the last six or seven minutes – wow. How impressive that was.
“Three teams involved in a great game. Why three teams? Bournemouth and we play 96 minutes full of gas, or even longer, I think, and the referee (Anthony Taylor) who just maintained the game, his whistle did not blow for every little thing every time.
«It was a great game to watch. In the end we won it. So that helps for my emotions.»
The compelling emotion in the night, said Slot, however, was how «impressive and powerful the tribute was for Jota.»
Touching moments
There were countless moving moments in Anfield in honor of the attacker of Liverpool and his brother Andre Silva, who also died in the incident in North Spain in July.
«They sang for him (Jota) before the game, in the first minute, after 20 minutes and again at the end. It was so impressive, so powerful,» Slot said.
«His wife is here, his children are here, and for them it might be special to hear how much he has loved here.»
The scoring of Held Chiesa, whose future has been the subject of speculation at the club, yielded a performance that felt like a gift to the fans who sang his name since last season.
«He gave them something in return,» said Slot.
The only negative for Liverpool was the defensive vulnerability, with Semenyo used twice on the loose line of the Reds.
«Normally you can complain about our players who don’t sprint hard enough back, but they did,» said Slot.
“The only thing we have to do better, but that is in an ideal world, is where do you lose a ball? The best way is not to lose a ball. And if you … lose with a shot, or it ends in a corner kick or a target kick, but don’t lose it on your own 18-yard line.
«But I always judge, how hard did they sprint back? And in both situations they sprinted back very hard.»
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