"They’re not that great" - Sam Allardyce hits out at Liverpool fans for recent comments
Former Premier League manager Sam Allardyce has blasted Liverpool fans for their recent comments about the style of play under new boss Arne Slot. The Reds have been phenomenal under the Dutch manager and sit atop the league table, five points clear of their closest competitors with a game in hand.
Slot is in his first season at the club after replacing German tactician Jurgen Klopp this summer. The previous manager had a distinct style of play that enthralled the fans, but Slot has applied a more pragmatic touch to the team, which has borne rich fruits.
Speaking in a recent appearance on No Tippy Tappy Football, the 70-year-old said:
“I listen to TalkSPORT a lot, obviously, and I heard a few Liverpool fans saying it’s not the same. And they’re going, ‘We’re not the up-and-at-them team that we were with Jurgen Klopp.' Like you mean, and I’m going, ‘Excuse me, we should have got beat today. We were very lucky that we won.’ And there’s a few Liverpool fans coming on and saying, ‘It’s not the football that Jurgen Klopp gave us, like’ you mean."
The former England manager concluded, saying:
“So I had a look at the stats. They’re not that great. But they’re still winning. So that’s a sign of a good team. So what he’s doing is this, he’s doing, how would you protect your win? Or how would you change to get your win, like you mean? So he’s sacrificing some of that over play, over attacking side to make sure he wins a football match.”
The Reds face Premier League basement dwellers Southampton on Sunday, November 24, and can open up an eight-point lead with a victory on the road. Slot has averaged 2.71 points per game in his 17 games in charge of the English giants.
Liverpool star expects tough game against Southampton
Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher talked about his side's preparation ahead of their game against Southampton. The Reds have been in impressive form this season, dropping only five points in 11 games.
Kelleher revealed the team were not looking at the league position and were just preparing for the match, saying (via FotMob):
"As players we know ourselves, they're a really good team. I think they've just been a bit unlucky with results and stuff. But they play a great style of football, they're really good with the ball and they create lots of chances. We're expecting a really tough game. I don't think we're looking at the league position too much."
Arne Slot's men will be keen to secure a favorable result in the game and open up a commanding lead before their next game in the division. The 20-time English champions face the four-time defending champions, Manchester City, at Anfield in their next league game on December 1.