Arne Slot drew a laugh from Jamie Carragher with his pre-match interview less than an hour before the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
Ahead of the biggest game of the season, the Dutchman has cut a relaxed figure this week, even after the disappointment of Champions League elimination at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night.
Slot admitted that the final five days later is the perfect game to face after that penalties heartbreak and he is expecting a tough outing against a physical side. The 3-3 draw at at St James’ Park in December when Liverpool had to twice come from behind.
In explaining what he expects from Newcastle at Wembley, the Liverpool boss got a little over enthusiastic, pushing TV presenter Mark Chapman to demonstrate the robust approach Eddie Howe’s side will bring.
“I think what everyone expects,” the Liverpool boss said on Sky Sports ahead of the game. “They will go all in from the start like they were at St James‘ Park. They were on top of us, letting us know they were there.
“At Anfield they were waiting a bit more, at Saint James’ Park they were constantly like this [shoves Chapman]. This is what you can expect in the final and this is what I expect today.”
A joking Chapman said afterwards: “’I don’t think I have ever been shoved by a manager in an interview before.” Carragher certainly enjoyed it, as his bark of laughter indicated.
(Image: Getty Images)
Slot is aiming to retain Liverpool’s Carabao Cup crown as Howe looks to end Newcastle’s 70-year run without a major domestic honor. But the Dutchman said the game isn’t bigger for the opposition.
“I don’t along with that. If you reach a final, it is always a big moment for them and also for us. We have two cups but you cannot take it for granted in this country. We don’t play a final every year,” he said in Friday’s press conference.
“I said it two days ago, in this part of the season — in England — it is almost impossible to have everyone fit. We have two or three injuries and that is the minimum you can expect after four months of non-stop football.
“So it is a big compliment for us and Newcastle to have so many fit. Trent [Alexander-Arnold] and Anthony Gordon are big players for both clubs but there are a lot of quality players for both.”
