- Jamie Redknapp delighted for Arne Slot
- Questions calls for his sacking
- Comments on Xabi Alonso taking over
Jamie Redknapp, speaking on Sky Sports, expressed his sheer delight for Arne Slot following Liverpool’s vital 2-0 victory over Fulham at Anfield on Saturday, April 11.
The former Reds midfielder praised Slot’s resilience after securing a much-needed three points that significantly bolsters Liverpool’s hopes for Champions League qualification.
The pundit said that the head coach needed the win after the three-match losing streak to ease the pressure on him. He was also over the moon for Rio Ngumoha and Mohamed Salah after they scored the goals for the Reds.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the match, Redknapp said that the win would give the players and the manager confidence going into the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals next week against Paris Saint Germain. He added that the wingers today have given the Dutchman some selection headache ahead of the match and said:
“He [Arne Slot] needed that, big result for him and the team. Gives them a bit of confidence, he’s got a bit of a selection dilemma. What a moment for Rio. So good to see. Opposite side of scale with Mohamed Salah scoring, he deserves it, unique player and a Premier League great. It’s going to be hard on Tuesday, a big game, a clean sheet, very important and a good result.”
Liverpool extended the gap on Chelsea to four points after the win today, while closing in on fourth-placed Aston Villa. They are also just three points adrift of third-placed Manchester United, who face Leeds United on Monday.
Jamie Redknapp admits Liverpool have been poor this season
Speaking ahead of the match, Jamie Redknapp said that the Liverpool side have not managed to handle the pressure this season. He boldly claimed that any formation or tactic used by Slot in the Paris Saint-Germain game would have seen them lose, as the players are unable to match the intensity of the opponents and said:
“It has been really poor, I must admit. I think the game in mid-week and PSG, I think showed the problems they have in terms of handling intensity. They went with a back five, they could have paid back four, anything, it wouldn’t have worked. You know they haven’t got the intensity to play in that kind of environment right now. And even every team that plays against them, you always feel they’re going to outwork them, you know, every duel, they don’t seem to be the first two, they seem to get out-pressed in matches.
“So things are fundamentally wrong, and that can happen. It’s been a really tough season for them in terms of defending the title. Hasn’t been what everybody expected. The manager is certainly under pressure. I don’t like even saying it because I can’t believe that we are talking about a manager that won the title last year, but they’re the facts.”
Liverpool were on a three-match losing streak after losing to Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester City, and PSG.
Redknapp does not want Slot sacked at Liverpool
Jamie Redknapp went on to address the Xabi Alonso rumours, saying that it would be unfair to sack Slot this summer. He wants the club to give the Dutchman time to work things out, but he admitted that he understands the calls from the fans to make a change in the dugout.
“You know, there’s a massive elephant in the room in Xabi Alonso and it does feel [that] unless he gets Champions League football, there might be a clamour to maybe make a change. And I really find that difficult, but I understand it. That’s the football, you know, that’s what we’re in now. That’s the price on the ticket when you’re a manager in Liverpool.
“He talks about the pressure of playing for Liverpool every single game, every result is obviously screwtenized, so heavily but he needs some good results very very quickly because things are very difficult for him now. I was at the end of last season and I remember being on the pitch thinking, ‘they’re going to dominate for the next five six years’ but things can change so quickly.”
Liverpool only have the UEFA Champions League to win this season, but will need to come from 2-0 down in the second leg to keep their hopes of winning silverware alive.
