Liverpool -manager Arne Slot says that the power of Newcastle in duels was an important factor in their Carabao Cup defeat on Sunday.
The Magpies won 68 percent of the air fights in Wembley, where they insured their first piece of large domestic silverware in 70 years thanks to goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak in a 2-1 win.
It means that the Reds have now left two games in less than a week, after their last-16 loss of Champions League for Paris Saint-German.
“Disappointing result, disappointing performance. Completely different than I felt after the game of Paris Saint-Germain,” said the Dutchman, speaking in his press conference after the game.
“Were we mentally or physically tired on Tuesday? No, but this game had nothing to do with running. This game only had to do with playing duels and there was no intensity in terms of running in this game, so you can't even judge it if we were physically tired because we couldn't press them.
“You can judge a team if they are tired when they press, but there was nothing to press because they played over our press. The game was slow, not intense, so it's hard to judge for me if we were physically ready.
“Mentally it is always difficult. If you look at the result and the performance you may feel that it might have done something to us, but I'd rather look at how the game went and this game went exactly as they wanted – a fight with many duels and many duels through the air
“If we played a game of football against them 10 times against them, they probably win it nine times because they are a stronger team through the air than we, which led to the first goal and the second goal. They are stronger in that part of football than we do and that is why they beat us.”
It was suggested that his side was surpassed by Newcastle, to which he answered: “They won more duels than we do. Is that expensive? Or is that one of their greatest qualities, to play so many air duels and win these physical duels?
“For me, if you don't touch the ball and they play the ball every time you try to press them, and every time you are too late. But I agree if you say they deserve to win because the game went in the way they wanted.
“So yes, they deserve to win. But it was not as if we ran behind them alone. We had to defend many long balls, second balls and that is their strength.”
Slot, however, wanted to emphasize, despite the disappointment of the past week, that everything was not lost.
“It was a tough week, but it was also a week in which we expanded our lead to 12 points, so it was not all negative, but the last two [games] Were definitely not the way we wanted it, “he added.
“But it's not in their first [Liverpool’s] History – or in the last two seasons – they have lost two games in a row. This is part of football.
“If you go far in tournaments that the opposition in your face becomes stronger and stronger and then even Liverpool can lose football matches. That is what can happen.”
Carra: Liverpool no longer has steam; Newcastle wiped the floor
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher:
“Newcastle did not win alone, they have battered Liverpool. It should have been 3-0 or 4-0.
“Liverpool got a consolation goal. I find it difficult to be too critical, considering how it seemed as if they were going to reach this season, but not many expected that.
“Liverpool was bad versus PSG and Newcastle are a good Premier League team, but they have wiped the floor with them. The legs of Liverpool no longer have steam, but luckily they have a large enough lead for them in the competition.
“Newcastle has been a physical team under Eddie Howe, but they have saved the best so far.
“It wasn't a great football match, but many of them was probably a trick from Newcastle. There is a lack of pace with the Liverpool Front Three.
“It's not their day, it's all about Newcastle. Clear set piece, duels in the middle of the park and pace. Liverpool couldn't handle it.”
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