Arne Slot said he had planned to substitute Cody Gakpo before Liverpool’s equalising goal against Nottingham Forest, but an unexplained delay meant the change could not be made when requested.
Liverpool came from behind to draw 2-2 with Nottingham Forest at Anfield in the second round of the Premier League. Slot admitted his side’s first-half display was poor but said they were significantly better after the interval.
“We had a very poor performance in the first half. I don’t think we played well enough or controlled the game,” Slot told reporters. “After that, I think we improved significantly in the second half. We played much more proactively, moved the ball faster, with more urgency, and I think we performed much better, but it wasn’t enough to win the game. I think we have to pay for our first-half performance.”
The Liverpool manager said he was frustrated that his side had failed to complete the comeback, particularly in a home fixture.
“Yes, I’m frustrated because you always want to win, especially at home. Not winning at Anfield is never a good result,” he said. “Admittedly, we’ve come back from behind before, like against Newcastle the other day, but ultimately, what can change the situation is a winthose three points. I liked our performance in the second half, but we couldn’t complete the comeback, and getting only one point is indeed frustrating.”
Slot said he had attempted to make a triple substitution around three minutes before the changes were eventually completed. He claimed the ball had gone out of play two or three times, possibly four, but said he had not been given an explanation for the delay.
“I can’t explain it because I didn’t get an explanation either. I wanted to make a triple substitution about three minutes before,” Slot said. “I think the fourth official must have had some issue with the substitution board or something else at the time.”
He added that the quick throw-in which led to Forest’s goal would not have happened had the substitutions been processed.
“If the game had been paused for my substitution, that quick throw-in would never have happened, because everyone would have been waiting,” he said. “As for the penalty, I’ll leave it to you to judge whether it was a penalty.”
Slot praised Victor for his contribution across Liverpool’s opening two matches, highlighting the winger’s persistence despite occasional poor decisions and fouls. Victor won a penalty in the previous game and scored against Nottingham Forest, while also contributing defensively.
“The other day he won a penalty, and today he scored a goal. I think he is always a threat,” Slot said. “He also provides a lot of defensive support, so yes, I am very satisfied with him.”
The manager also said Liverpool had been unfortunate with the video assistant referee decisions. He believed Nottingham Forest’s opening goal had appeared offside in real time, while Florian Wirtz’s effort was ruled out after VAR intervention.
“If Wirtz had scored that goal, it would have been great for us and for himself,” Slot said. “The score would have been 1-1 at halftime, which would obviously put us in a much better situation in the second half.”
Slot remains confident Wirtz will improve as he plays more regularly for Liverpool. “I trust him very much, extremely much, and I think we must find the best way to use him,” he said.
The manager declined to discuss Liverpool’s transfer activity in detail, saying deals were still in progress during the final days of the transfer market. He hopes the squad will be settled by 2 September, allowing the club to work with greater certainty until at least January.
Slot also explained that his wingers must be prepared to switch flanks depending on the opposition. He said Gakpo had been one of the players due to be replaced before his “brilliant breakthrough” created momentum, prompting the manager to delay the changes for another three or four minutes.
“After the pace of the game slowed down a bit, we decided to make those substitutions,” Slot said. “But whether it was that goal or the other one, I think they were both very good goals.”
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