Jarell Quansah was hooked at half-time (Picture: Getty)
Jarell Quansah’s half-time substitution was tactical and not injury-related, Arne Slot confirmed after Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Ipswich Town.
Second-half goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah saw the Reds get their first win of the new Premier League season away against Kieran McKenna’s newly promoted side.
But it required a much-improved display from Liverpool in the second half after a flat first 45 minutes which saw Ipswich give their home fans plenty of optimism.
At the half-time break, it was young centre-back Quansah who made way for Ibrahima Konate as Liverpool soon clicked into gear, with Slot confirming after the game that he felt he needed the Frenchman’s added physicality at the back.
‘The first taste [of Premier League football] in the first half was maybe as expected because they were all on top of us, very aggressive. Second half was a joy to watch,’ the Dutchman told TNT Sports at full-time.
Asked about his message to the team and changes at half-time, Slot replied: ‘First thing was we don’t have to speak about tactics if you don’t lose so many duels.
‘Not that Jarell [Quansah] lost every duel – many of us lost too many duels – but I think we needed Konate to win the long balls through the air from their number nine.
Mohamed Salah scored Liverpool’s second at Portman Road (Picture: Getty0
‘That helped and gave us control. I don’t think Ipswich could keep up with the tempo in the second half.’
Salah’s 65th-minute strike saw him notch up his ninth opening-day goal for Liverpool, the most of any player in Premier League history but Slot insisted he doesn’t want his team to rely on the Egyptian’s goals this season.
‘I don’t believe that much in one man, I believe in the team more than the individual,’ said Slot.
‘He can score his goals because of good runs, good assists. I think Mo also needs the team but we also have more creative individuals who can decide the game.’
Jota also took his goal nicely to open the scoring, with Darwin Nunez kept on the bench for the entire 90 minutes.
‘We know but it’s normal if you’re Liverpool that you have a lot of good players,’ Slot said of the Portuguese forward.
‘You saw today how tough Premier League games are so you also need good individual performance if the team is playing well to win.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.