Gary Neville BACKS "clinical and brutal" Arne Slot after big Liverpool call

Gary Neville believes Arne Slot showed his clinical and brutal side after making a big call during Liverpool's win over Ipswich Town.

The Dutchman, taking charge of his first competitive fixture as Reds head coach, watched his side struggle in the first-half of their opening Premier League game of the season and wasted no time in making a change.

At half-time he withdrew youngster Jarell Quansah and replaced him with Ibrahima Konate in central defence, and in truth, the visitors were much better in the second half as they eventually ran out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah.

Unsurprisingly, Slot's decision was a major talking point after the game and he explained his thought process: "The first thing I said [at half-time] is that we don't need to speak about tactics if you lose so many duels," he told TNT Sports.

"And that's what we did, not that Jarell [Quansah] lost every duel - many of us lost too many duels but I think we needed Konate to win these long balls through the air from their no.9."

READ MORE: Liverpool's next major decision is EVEN MORE important

Neville backs Slot decision

Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast after Manchester City's 2-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday, the former defender delivered his verdict on Slot's tactical substitution and explanation.

"I thought Arne Slot was quite tough on Quansah," he said. It is [a big call]. I mean subbing someone at half-time is big and I do not think it is done lightly by managers.

"It was the way after the game as well, he was quite blunt about the way he answered it and there was no holding back.

"So, I think there is an element of him being quite clinical and brutal and he was reacting to the game and what was happening. He felt like they needed to win the duels, that was his main thought behind the decision.

"It worked, you have to say, Liverpool were a lot better in the second half and it was a good win for them."