Liverpool star Jarell Quansah breaks silence after ruthless Arne Slot sub in first game

Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah admits that his half-time substitution during Arne Slot's first game as manager was "a kick up the backside." Quansah, 21, was ruthlessly hooked by Slot as the Reds were drawing 0-0 away to newly-promoted Ipswich Town at the interval. The England youth international was replaced by Ibrahima Konate and Liverpool eventually ran out 2-0 winners in their Premier League opener.

Quansah hasn't featured in the Reds' two games since but bounced back when playing for England under-21s on Friday in a goalless draw with Northern Ireland . Speaking after earning man-of-the-match in the Euro 2025 qualifier, the centre-back was asked about Slot's decision to sub him, replying: "It's a long season, I have the whole season to prove myself. "It's given me a kick up the backside, you could say.



I'll keep grafting on the training pitch and that's all it is. It's never a nice feeling as a footballer to be subbed off at half-time but at the end of the day it was the gaffer's decision and it was the right one. "It obviously worked because we won, so I can only focus on myself, improve myself, kick forward and move on to the next game.

I'm staying ready for whenever it comes." Quansah racked up an impressive 33 appearances in all competitions last season but is now competing with Konate and Joe Gomez for a starting place alongside captain Virgil van Dijk , who hass helped the youngster bed in. "The way Virgil talks you through the game, I've never heard anyone like it," Quansah explained.

"He might annoy us at times but it's all for the greater good. With all the experience he has and the situations he's been in, it's only fair that he can share his knowledge so we can be the best players we can. I’ll have to be one of the best centre-halves in Europe if I'm starting (for Liverpool).

" Your turn! Will Jarell Quansah get back into the Liverpool starting XI? Give us your prediction in the comments section "It's always been the goal since I was young, I've always wanted to be the best in the world in my position and so I'm striving for that and it doesn't matter how long it takes, I'm not going to get too disheartened if it's not 2026 ( World Cup ), I know what I need to do and hopefully I keep improving." Quansah was called up to Gareth Southgate's training squad ahead of Euro 2024 but awaits his first senior England cap. "The more and more games I play, it will come and it's about taking that opportunity," he added.

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