Arne Slot has taken aim at Newcastle’s tactics after Eddie Howe’s side beat his team 2-1 in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final clash at Wembley.
The Reds were undone via goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak, with Federico Chiesa’s late goal merely a consolation.
Liverpool had gone into the fixture as the favourites to secure the trophy given their impressive form throughout the season so far.
Yet Newcastle were superior throughout much of the match as they clinched their first piece of silverware since 1969.
Arne Slot was frustrated after Liverpool lost to Newcastle in the final of the Carabao Cup on Sunday
PA
Slot, however, appears to suggest Newcastle’s long-ball tactics were behind his team’s failure to come out on top.
“The game was slow, not intense,” said Slot.
“The game went exactly the way they wanted, with a lot of duels and a lot through the air and if we play 10 games of football through the air, they win nine times … that is what led to the first goal and the second.
“We were outplayed in their style, that is true. They won more duels.
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“It was a disappointing result, a disappointing performance, completely different to how I felt after the PSG game.”
Liverpool have now lost two big matches in a row.
Their defeat to Newcastle came just days after they were sent crashing out of the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.
Slot insists there’s no reason to panic, however, with Liverpool 12 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
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“I want to make it clear that the week started really well by beating Southampton, which extended our lead to 12 points,” the Dutchman continued.
“We are in one of the biggest clubs in the world but it is not the first time they have lost two games in a row especially if one is when you face the best team in Europe at the moment and the other is a strong Premier League team.
“I don’t think there was more hunger from them. It is 70 years since they last won a trophy but that is for the fans.
“The players have 15 years to play football and they want to win every single trophy they play for and that is what we want.”
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Newcastle boss Howe, meanwhile, has admitted he’s ‘very emotional’ following his side’s win.
“Emotional, very emotional. It is very unlike me. We knew what was at stake and just wanted to do everyone proud,” he said.
“We were desperate to try and win the trophy after so many years of hurt.
“It had a different feel. We have won the game and everything will be reviewed positively but we prepared well and I was very confident the players would perform.”
Liverpool were outplayed as Newcastle beat the Reds 2-1 in Sunday night’s Carabao Cup final clash
PA
He continued: “We wanted to do the football club proud today. We are trying to break new ground and hopefully this is a turning point for us.
“With set plays, we have worked consistently on certain ones for two weeks for this game.
“Dan [Burn] will be the first to admit, he hasn’t practiced like that! All of the players were magnificent but particularly him. He was a collasus.
“Both teams were very direct. We dealt with that very well. No-one wanted to make a mistake.
“There wasn’t a lot of pretty football but we were effective.”