Match Overview

In an emphatic 4-1 victory for Liverpool against Ipswich Town at Anfield, manager Arne Slot addressed a controversial tackle on midfielder Wataru Endo by Ipswich's Julio Enciso, which many felt warranted a red card.

Slot's Focus on Positives

Despite the contentious nature of the incident, Slot chose to focus on the positives, highlighting the team’s commanding performance rather than lamenting the referee's decision to only issue a yellow card to Enciso. The match saw Cody Gakpo shine with two goals, with Mohamed Salah contributing another after Dominik Szoboszlai had opened the scoring. Jacob Greaves's late goal for Ipswich prevented a clean sheet for Liverpool.

Wataru Endo’s Resilience

The moment of tension came in the second half when Endo, a substitute, was on the receiving end of a reckless challenge from Enciso. The Japanese international needed medical attention but quickly returned to the action, demonstrating remarkable resilience. Reflecting on the incident, Slot remarked, 'When the foul was made, I thought it didn't look good, especially with the reactions of the players around him. But Wataru immediately shook it off and continued, showing an 'unbelievable' mentality. His ability to play on without fuss is commendable.'

Referee's Decision

Slot conjectured that the referee's decision not to escalate the foul to a red card was likely correct, adding, 'I haven't reviewed the play, but my assumption is that it was just a yellow since Wataru was fine after.'

Match Analysis

Analyzing the match, Slot expressed satisfaction with how his team handled the game. He commented on the team's early goal, stating, 'It was a comfortable match mostly because we scored early. It’s always challenging to face teams that set up defensively, but for the majority of the game, we controlled the match effectively, displaying aggressive and dominant football.' While he lamented conceding a goal from a corner—something Liverpool had avoided all season—he remained pleased with the overall performance.

Looking Ahead

As Liverpool gears up for their next fixtures, Slot’s focus remains on maintaining the team’s momentum and addressing any potential shortcomings in defense to ensure continued success in the league. With players like Endo exemplifying strength and perseverance, the squad seems poised for further achievements this season.