After what was far from a convincing display against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, Liverpool boss Arne Slot made a worrying comparison when speaking about an injury to one of his stars.
"Far from happy" – Slot slams Liverpool performance
Even with a much-changed side, Slot would have been expecting Liverpool to sweep past Championship side Southampton with relative ease. And it looked as though that would be the case when record signing Alexander Isak scored his first goal for the club.
The Swede, after missing an earlier chance, made no mistake and raced off to celebrate in vintage fashion for the first time in front of the Anfield crowd.
After going off at the break in a planned substitution, Isak may be thrown straight into the side against Crystal Palace this weekend in place of the suspended Hugo Ekitike.
The Frenchman was once again clinical in front of goal, but not so wise in his celebration – taking his shirt off and receiving a second yellow card as a result. Now out of the Palace game, Slot slammed the moment as “stupid” and needless”.
That said, it’s not just Ekitike that the Dutchman was unhappy with last night. The Liverpool boss told reporters: “Great ball by Robbo (Andy Robertson), by the way, who also has won so much at this club and also understands how to play this game, not underestimate it – just always be ready to play.
“And that’s also the way to get yourself either back in the team or get yourself as much playing minutes as you want. That’s why I was happy with a few individual performances, but far from happy from a few other individual performances.”
It was also a night to forget for one of Liverpool’s other new boys, who was stretchered off on his debut amid concerns about what would be the ultimate injury blow.
Slot makes worrying Leoni comparison
Some are instantly fearing the worst for 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni. The defender was enjoying an excellent debut before injury struck in the 81st minute. In what appears to be a knee injury, Liverpool are now awaiting the results of a scan to find out the extent of the injury, but Slot has already made a worrying comparison.
“Normally these things don’t happen in five to 10 minutes and you have to wait for tomorrow to see how he comes in and then maybe do an MRI scan to know more about how serious it is.
“Normally the emotions of a player tell you a lot. I saw during the weekend a player in the Dutch Eredivisie who went out completely in tears – Ruben van Bommel, by the way, of PSV – and a day later it proved to be that it was right.
“Let’s hope for the best.”
A repeat of Van Bommel’s injury would be the worst-case scenario for Leoni. The PSV star suffered a season-ending knee injury last weekend and such a blow at this stage of Leoni’s Liverpool career is the last thing that the young defender needs.
Described as “dominant” by analyst Ben Mattinson after he completed his summer switch to Anfield, Liverpool fans will be desperate to see more of their new teenage star.