Arne Slot explains early Jarell Quansah substitution in Liverpool defeat to Tottenham | OneFootball

The centre-back had been battling illness in the build-up to the semi-final clash

Jarell Quansah was replaced after only 30 minutes against Tottenham

Jarell Quansah was forced off against Tottenham due to illness, Arne Slot has confirmed.

The centre-back started alongside Virgil van Dijk for Liverpool in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie, but went down off the ball after 30 minutes and was replaced by Wataru Endo.

However, speaking at his post-match press conference after Liverpool fell to a 1-0 defeat in north London, Slot revealed he had not yet spoken in detail to Quansah but believed the centre-back was still feeling the impact of a recent illness.

“He didn’t feel really well, so from the moment the game started until the moment we had to take him off, he felt a pressure, I think he said on his chest,” Slot said.

“It went so fast: he came off and the game started again, so I have to ask him exactly, but he said he didn’t feel really well. It was not an injury, more not feeling really well.

“In the last few days he was a bit ill but we thought he was on his way back, but maybe had something to do with it. I have to ask, but it had nothing to do with an injury.”