Liverpool manager’s honest verdict after 2-2 draw at Aston Villa | OneFootball

Slot Post-Match Conference: Key Takeaways from Liverpool’s Draw at Aston Villa

Liverpool’s trip to Villa Park ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s second-half equaliser rescuing a point for Arne Slot’s side. Mohamed Salah had initially put the visitors ahead before Villa hit back through Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins. Despite late chances for both teams, neither could find a winner, leaving Liverpool eight points clear at the top of the Premier League—though Arsenal have a game in hand.

Photo: IMAGO

In his post-match conference, Slot reflected on the performance, key moments, and squad decisions. Here’s every word from the Liverpool boss.

Frustration Over Dropped Points

When asked whether he was satisfied with the result or left ruing two points lost, Slot was clear in his assessment.

“The last thing,” he admitted. “The only reason why we could, could, could be happy with a 2-2 is because they got the last chance of the game, maybe their third chance after scoring two. So, that could be the only reason that we would say, ‘OK, a point is good to take.’ But for the rest, I think for everything else I am not happy with the 2-2.”

Slot was particularly frustrated with Liverpool’s position at half-time, believing they had done more than enough to lead rather than trail 2-1.

“I wasn’t happy at all being 2-1 down at half-time – that didn’t reflect, in my opinion, the first half at all. But that’s the thing in football – if you concede a set-piece, things can change quite quickly.”

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Nunez’s Missed Chance

Darwin Nunez was presented with a golden opportunity to win the game after coming off the bench, but the Uruguayan failed to convert.

“What I saw was an unbelievable pass from Conor Bradley and what a power run from Dominik Szoboszlai, who made, in my opinion, the perfect choice to square it [as] from a one-v-one to the goalkeeper he made it an open-goal chance,” Slot said.

“Then Darwin, of course, it was not the best leg [because] he is right-footed, of course, but it was still a big chance.”

Despite his disappointment, Slot backed Nunez to bounce back.

Photo: IMAGO

“Yeah, very unlucky and I was hoping that he could have got another one because a player like him probably wouldn’t miss two chances in a row and he was very close afterwards when he went towards [Emiliano] Martinez again, but Martinez made a great sliding tackle to win the ball. I think we are all disappointed but it is normal that a player that missed a chance like this is always a bit more disappointed than the rest.”

Addressing Performance Levels

Liverpool have faced scrutiny over their recent performances, but Slot dismissed suggestions of a dip in form.

“I think every game has its own story,” he explained. “I think in terms of performance we weren’t brilliant at all at Everton but for obvious reasons we were very unlucky to come away with a draw over there.”

He was more pleased with Liverpool’s display against Villa.

“Today, I liked our performance a lot – much, much, much more than I liked our performance against Wolves – from what I like the most: playing the ball, bringing the ball out from the back, creating chances. So, no, I don’t feel like that at all.”

However, he warned against making a habit of failing to capitalise on dominant displays.

“And what we must not do, and have done a bit too often now, is that we don’t get what we deserve and if you look at all the chances, if you put them in a row from us and them, I think it’s clear which team should have won this game. We must not make a habit out of that because it happened a bit too much now.”

Still, Slot remains aware of the bigger picture.

“Still, we are eight points clear with Arsenal [having] a game in hand.”

Salah’s Relentless Form

Mohamed Salah continued his remarkable season, registering his 29th goal and providing an assist.

“He is, but not only him,” Slot said when asked if Salah was playing like a man on a mission. “I think I could not have asked more today from all the players, they worked so incredibly hard.”

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Slot also acknowledged the emotional and physical toll of recent fixtures.

“In a fixture list like we have with so many games, to play two difficult away games at Everton and here, [and] emotional games as well because not only the quality you face, you are also against the crowd because they are really helpful at Everton and here again as well.”

He praised Diogo Jota’s role in Salah’s goal.

“But Mo, yes, a great goal, although Jots [Diogo Jota] deserves a lot of compliments for that goal as well. The second one was maybe a bit lucky because it got deflected but we were there so many times in that period of time that it felt to me that we definitely deserved that 2-2 at that moment.”

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Tactical Adjustments

Slot opted to start Curtis Jones in a more advanced role, a decision he felt paid off despite the result.

“Result-wise, going 2-1 in at half-time, you could say it didn’t work,” he admitted. “Performance-wise, it worked really, really, really well because we totally did not deserve to go in 2-1 down at half-time – again, in my opinion.”

The move was influenced by squad rotation concerns.

“The reason why we did this is because Lucho [Luis Diaz] played three games in seven days. I played him at Plymouth because I knew I had Cody [Gakpo] so I could switch them around if needed but then Cody got injured at Everton, he got a big knock, and then all of a sudden you have only one winger left.”

Slot also explained the necessity of managing Jota and Alexander-Arnold’s minutes.

“The same way I had to take out Jota and Trent [in the second half], both coming back from injuries. Jota hasn’t played for four or five months, it is his second start now after four or five months. So yeah, you have to take care of them, especially in a period of time where you play so many games.”

Conclusion

Liverpool may have left Villa Park with mixed emotions, but Slot remained confident in his team’s performance and direction. With crucial fixtures ahead, he will be hoping his side can turn dominance into three points more consistently.