In an ups and downs EFL Cup quarter-final match, Liverpool beat Southampton by a narrow 2-1 margin away from home to advance to the quarter-finals. After the match, Reds coach Slaughter was passionate in his interview, not only emphasizing the mission of defending the EFL Cup title honor, but also praising his team's performance.
Slaughter began by reflecting on the difficult conditions of the game and the team lineup, "The bad winds made the game incredibly difficult, but it was a crucial win for us. Not only did we see great performances from the non-starters, but we also witnessed how quickly the new additions settled in, which meant a lot to us."
He then analyzed his team's performance in depth: "In the first half, we were firmly in control of the game and the role of the backline became less prominent. However, in the second half, as our control weakened, our defense faced more pressure, especially against defenders in unconventional positions. Despite this, we defended brilliantly, allowing only limited attacking opportunities. Despite a slightly lackluster second half, the fruits of victory were ultimately ours."
Slotter also revealed the team's desire to win the EFL Cup: "We have to defend this trophy because it represents the glory of last season. Although I was not personally involved, the players made history with Jürgen Klopp and the coaching team. We are eager to win all the trophies and are aware of the strength of strong teams such as Arsenal, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in what is a challenging competition."
It's worth noting that Slaughter was unable to stand in the coach's box due to a ban, and had to sit in the media stand at St. Mary's to direct the game. In this regard, he said wryly: "Watching the game from the stands, the view is more open than in the coach's box. But sometimes I feel helpless because I can't communicate directly with the players. However, I have a great coaching team and even when I'm not on the sidelines, they make sure the team wins."
