Arne Slot maintains his Liverpool players are « fighting together » after Jamie Carragher branded the Reds as a « team of individuals. » Carragher suggested Slot’s squad were « not a team » on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football whilst analysing Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Tottenham. The Reds boss was questioned about Carragher’s remarks during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday before Liverpool take on Galatasaray on Wednesday in the Champions League last 16.
Slot said: « I agree with a lot of things Jamie has said throughout this whole season. This particular one, I disagree with him. I don’t see this. As I said, after we conceded the 1-1, after so many disappointments we’ve had this season, it would not have been completely strange or weird if the players would’ve given up.
« But they didn’t because I can show you – and you can find it yourself – that they had a counterattack, where seven or eight of our players were back in our 18-yard box, which led to a corner because we blocked that shot, which led to a transition moment all the way to the other side, where Hugo Ekitike had his big chance.
« A team that has given up, a team of individuals, a team that doesn’t work together, doesn’t show that resilience after our 127th setback this season; that’s a bit exaggerated, but we’ve had many. »
« I don’t know why he said it, what he meant with it, what examples he used to say this. » Slot added: « I see a team that is fighting together. That’s my opinion. »
Discussing Liverpool a day prior, Carragher stated: « They’re not a team, they’re a team of individuals. Quality players, yes, but just been dropped in with no cohesion.
« You can see that on the clips, and that’s what they lost. That is the most important thing for Liverpool, I don’t think of some fancy team with superstar players. It’s always been about top players, but being a team. »
Liverpool are enduring a torrid campaign under Slot, who steered the Reds to the Premier League title last year.
Slot’s squad sits fifth in the Premier League standings – 21 points adrift of Arsenal at the summit – putting them at risk of failing to secure Champions League qualification.
Liverpool have collected merely one point from their last two Premier League fixtures against Wolves and Tottenham – two sides facing the threat of relegation.
The Reds suffered defeat to Crystal Palace in both the Carabao Cup and the Community Shield, whilst they must overturn a one-goal deficit in the second leg of their Champions League tie against Galatasaray.
Liverpool have progressed to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, but a journey to Manchester City lies ahead next month.
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