-Credit:Getty Images
Arne Slot provided more details regarding Jarell Quansah’s early exit from Liverpool’s 1-0 loss to Tottenham – revealing that the young defender did not actually suffer an injury.
On Wednesday, Quansah was given his sixth start of the season in the Reds’ Carabao Cup semifinal first leg. Just 30 minutes into the match, however, he needed to be substituted off with Wataru Endo taking his place on the pitch.
In just half an hour of playing time, Quansah led both sides in clearances (three) and recoveries (four) while additionally winning each of his duels and tackles. Following the game, Slot informed members of the media that the 21-year-old was dealing with an illness.
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“Jarell didn’t feel really well,“ Slot said. “From the moment the game started until the moment we had to take him off, he felt a bit of pressure I think he said on his chest.
“I have to ask him exactly, but he said he didn’t feel well. It was not an injury. In the last few days he was a bit ill but we thought he was on his way back. Maybe that had something to do with it.”
Quansah’s diagnosis is welcome news to Slot, who likely braced for a scenario in which Liverpool would boast just two healthy center-back options for Saturday’s matchup against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup. With the academy graduate unlikely to miss significant time, the Reds can now afford to rest Virgil van Dijk for the contest.
Arne Slot revealed that Jarell Quansah’s early exit was due to him feeling under the weather -Credit:Getty Images
Slot and Van Dijk did little to hide their frustration on the heels of Wednesday’s defeat, which featured a controversial finish after Lucas Bergvall narrowly escaped a second yellow card moments before netting the game-winner. The 18-year-old scythed down Kostas Tsimikas – forcing the defender off the pitch for treatment – only to score the goal moments later while Liverpool only had 10 men.
“I don’t think there’s any debate [about the possible second yellow],” Slot said. “They say he didn’t stop the counter-attack. I think any manager would prefer to have a second yellow card for the other team rather than to finish the counter-attack with a man less to play with.
“Nobody would have thought it would have such a big impact 30 seconds later. I’m 99.9 percent sure that I wasn’t the only one who felt not the best. I’m 99.9 percent sure that when Bergvall scored, the referee was like ‘Ah, is this really happening?’ He couldn’t change it anymore. I think for him it was also far from ideal.”
Van Dijk expressed a similar sentiment, adding: “I think it was quite obvious it was going to be a second yellow [for Bergvall]. I think it was pretty clear. It was a coincidence and a minute later he scores the winner.
“It is what it is. He [the referee] made a mistake in my opinion and I told him that. He thinks he didn’t but it was quite obvious I think and everyone on the sidelines knew it was supposed to be a yellow.”