The expression 'home values' got a different meaning for Arne Slot this week when he answered the phone to talk to his parents.
Just like every proud father, Arend Slot has invested himself religiously in the fortunes of his son and now regards himself as a dedicated by Liverpool.
The lines between fan and father, however, were blurred after a 2-1 defeat of Lille in the Champions League that was just as much thanks to perspiration as inspiration.
“When I call him, he said,” Ah, it wasn't as exciting as other matches of Liverpool “when he watched the match against Lille,” Slot passed on with a meaningful smile.
'I tried to explain to him these games that you can easily lose when you start forcing all kinds of difficult balls, but he doesn't always agree with me!
'As a manager I was quite happy with our performance. Lille was well organized and there was a time when I remember that Curtis Jones tried to play, from the half line, a ball with a little risk. We lost that ball and they have come across.
'So that is the risk that you have if you play against a low-block team. Nottingham Forest is probably the best in the competition if you play these stupid balls – I call them stupid balls – that my father would like to see playing a little more! '
It would not be in the nature of Liverpool's head coach to take unnecessary risks and it says everything for the insured progress they have made under Slag's Watch that they will attack the second half of the season as the favorites to the Premier League to win.
There is peace in the club and this should be considered when you think Jurgen Klopp had informed the world 12 months ago this weekend that he 'had more energy' and many wondered if Liverpool would be able to go for the title again .
But here they are ready to face Ipswich in what a new test of patience will be, and Slot hopes that the conversation will be a little more floating if he speaks to his father on Saturday evening, especially if three more points have been built up .
'There have not been many games where he said:' Oh! I like what saw! '', Last continued, laughing. 'The funny thing is that he was always pretty critical (when I played), so when my son plays, I am like' Oh! Well done! Well done!' Maybe my son will become critical again!
'I think my father's favorite version so far would be one of which we had a comfortable lead, far before the end because he is always a bit nervous. Every game for us is tight, so I think the West Ham would be gone or Tottenham would be gone.
'But because he was in the stadium against Manchester City and Real Madrid (in November), I think if you would ask him now, he would tell you that they were his most special moments because he was also in Anfield with my mother.
“He may even know your names! He reads everything that is written!
'He is an ambassador for his amateur club and they play on a similar time in the Netherlands on Saturday. He has many problems (splitting his time), so the first half he goes there and then goes home very quickly so that he can see our game. He follows everything as most fathers do. '
There is extra symbolism about the visit of Ipswich because they were the first opponents to be confronted in August. A comfortable 2-0 victory set the team on its way to what has been an excellent campaign so far, but the question remains: how much further can Liverpool claim?
“A friend of mine always says something nice,” said Slot. 'If you want to win a sprint of 100 meters, a tenth of a second makes the difference between finishing No. 1 or no. 8. These are the margins that we are talking about in a club like this.
'So many things are already at the highest level, it is not that easy to get something extra. But if you get something extra, you can end here (he stabbed his hand) because the other teams are of a similar level like us. The next phase for us is even more consistency in the quality in which we win '
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