Arne Slot Addresses Liverpool’s Recent Struggles After Defeat to Crystal Palace
Arne Slot defended his team selection in the wake of Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup. This latest loss marks Liverpool’s sixth setback in their last seven matches.
Slot made significant changes to his lineup, rotating 10 players from the squad that played in their last Premier League match against Brentford. Notably, key players like Alexander Isak, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil van Dijk were not included in the matchday squad.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but considering the available squad – perhaps just 15 or 16 first-team players – I made the decisions that I felt were necessary,” Slot explained in an interview with Sky Sports. “It’s not typical for Liverpool to lose six out of seven games.”
Slot highlighted that in a previous matchup against Southampton, Giovanni Leoni suffered an injury. He expressed concern over the squad’s depth, emphasizing that despite perceptions of having a large roster, they are managing with only around 20 players and currently facing four injuries.
“For instance, I have just one right-back, Conor Bradley. Last season, when I had to use him repeatedly within short time frames, he often ended up with injuries. With a challenging schedule ahead, it’s crucial to consider the risks,” he stated.
Slot also recounted a past incident where Isak, unprepared for play, sustained an injury. “Last time against Southampton, we lost Leoni to injury, and Hugo Ekitike received a red card. These are the sorts of challenges we cannot afford with our upcoming demanding fixtures,” he noted.
Liverpool is set to face Aston Villa in the Premier League at Anfield on Saturday, with further tough matches against Real Madrid and Manchester City on the horizon before the international break.
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