Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed his dissatisfaction with his players performance despite their narrow 1-0 victory over Girona to remain top of the UEFA Champions League table.
Mohamed Salah’s second-half penalty kick which was given after a VAR review for a foul by Donny Van De Beek on Colombian forward Luis Diaz, was enough as the Reds maintained a 100% record in Europe this season.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Slot said, “If you ask me about all the six games, I’m really pleased with all the results, I am really pleased with the five [other] games with the way we played. I’m far from pleased about the performance tonight.”
Liverpool were made to sweat for the three points by a Girona side that were only denied by brilliant saves by returning Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who was making his first appearance in over two months due to injury.
“If you play against a team that has such a good idea about football, knows how to bring the ball out from the back – like some other teams we faced recently, like Manchester City or Real Madrid – then you need to be so intense if you want to make it difficult for them”, he continued.
“But if every time you are waiting a few seconds before you press and if you do press, you are so easily outplayed, then this team can cause you a lot of problems.”
The win was the Reds sixth in the competition this season as they remained top of the new 36-team standings while Girona remained without a win since defeating Slovan Bratislava on Matchday two.
“That’s what they’ve shown throughout the whole Champions League campaign, except for [against] PSV Eindhoven away”, he added.
“I almost feel sorry for them because they deserved so much more in this Champions League campaign than the three points they have until now”.
Liverpool are next in action this weekend when they play host to Fulham in the English Premier League.
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