Liverpool boss Arne Slot was run through a gauntlet of emotions on Friday, as the Reds began their Premier League title defense with a 4-2 win over Bournemouth.
The Reds and Anfield paid pregame tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva following the tragic accident that took their lives earlier this summer, a vibrant “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and tifo displays adding to the atmosphere of an Opening Day.
MORE — Anfield pays tribute to the late Diogo Jota and Andre Silva
Both Slot and goalkeeper Alisson Becker spoke with NBC’s pitchside desk of Rebecca Lowe, Tim Howard, Robbie Mustoe, and Robbie Earle after the game and detailed their experiences.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be here for a year and I’ve heard ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ many times but the way it was sung today was so so powerful,” Slot said. “And the way during the game our fans were incredible not just with the tribute they paid but also the help they gave us
“I told the players afterwards how normally 20 minutes from the end when it was 2-2, the first one I’d look at is Diogo. And now with the help of our fans we were able to turn the game around as well. The whole story should be how impressive the tribute was and our fans. That can only happen at Anfield.”
MORE — Recap, video highlights from Anfield
And for a while it looked Liverpool might cruise against a Bournemouth team dealing with back line upheaval. New signing Hugo Ekitike had a goal and an assist as the Reds built a 2-0 lead.
Antoine Semenyo rallied the Cherries to a deadlock before Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah found late goals to deliver three points to the hosts.
Arne Slot reaction — Liverpool boss reacts to blown lead, thrilling win, emotional Diogo Jota tributes
That was some ending after being 2-2 in the 88th minute: “Now, knowing the result, it couldn’t have been better. When we were 2-0 up we started really well after the first half. They also had their chances. When we were 2-0 up we controlled the game but all of the sudden two counter attacks, they came back in the game. This team we faced never gives up. Fortunately the team they face never gives up.
Creative solutions at the back? “As much as everybody is talking about our squad we do have a few issues and one of them is availability in our back line. Joe Gomez has not trained much in 3.5 weeks. We lost a bit of control after the 2-1 and we needed more in the midfield. Hugo Ekitike is getting there but is still not able to play 90. Jeremie Frimpong felt his hamstring a little bit and it’s finding the balance between keeping them fit and winning games.”
Big players left, big ones arrive: “We lost a lot of players. When you lose players it’s quite hard to sign new ones. Normally in the Premier League it’s about signing, signing, and never selling. We’ve lost four starters but we’ve brought in really good players as well. The good thing is three of them were there at the start of preseason. Hugo wasn’t unfortunately. We weren’t lucky to face Bournemouth, who are one of the fittest teams in the league.”
What happened on Bournemouth’s goals? “It starts with where you lose the ball. We have a trick from Dominik Szoboszlai which is unnecessary when you’re 2-0 up. Then there was a moment at 2-1 where our fullback made an inside run, normally a great idea to make space for Mo, but Mo decided to square it and it was just not perfect and then the team we faced has unbelievable intensity in terms of running. They just came out of nowhere with 2-3 extra players, great finish by Semenyo. Great player. So yeah, it’s a bit of everything.”
On the Diogo Jota tributes at Anfield: “We’ve spoken for 5-6 minutes but what we should speak about is how impressive and powerful the tribute was today. I’ve been lucky enough to be here for a year and I’ve heard ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ many times but the way it was sung today was so so powerful and the way during the game our fans were incredible with the tribute they paid but also the help they gave us. I told the players afterwards how normally 20 minutes from the end when it was 2-2, the first one I’d look at is Diogo. And now with the help of our fans we were able to turn the game around as well. The whole story should be how impressive the tribute was and our fans. That can only happen at Anfield.”
Alisson Becker reaction
Did you worry late? “Always when you are winning the game 2-0 and you get the equalizer you worry. But at Anfield our team has shown so many times that anything is possible. With the qualities we have, [Federico] Chiesa coming from the bench, a special player for us. His situation wasn’t that easy but he keeps working and today he gets rewarded.”
How was it playing with a changed back four? “It’s hard, not many people talk about the changes we’ve had in the team. Everybody says how good the new players coming in, but nobody talks about the big challenges at the back. Last season we had the challenge to change the managers but we kept the same players. Now having new players and changing a lot. And Ryan is an amazing player for us and didn’t play for us. For Jeremie, Hugo, and Flo playing for the first time in the Premier League, the physicality and intensity they played so well.”
How much harder will it be to defend the Premier League than it was winning last season? “As far as I can remember, the last season really hard! In the Premier League there’s noe asy game to play. Today was a good reminder for us and everybody. We had a little bit of a taste against Palace in the Communtiy Shield. Teams are becoming stronger and strong every season. It’ll be a huge challenge not just because of the quality of the league but because of our changes. I trust the players. I trust the manager. I trust the plan. We are capable of great things. We have to play every game like it’s a final.”
How did you handle today’s emotions with the Diogo Jota tributes? “With all of the things happened in the last month with us, it wasn’t easy. It’s never easy but everybody’s coping in a good way because we are together. Today the supporters showed us that we are together in this but of course we have a big goal, a big target — to fight for the title in the Premier League in other compeitions because this is the standard for Liverpool FC.”
