Liverpool’s Arne Slot Stands by Team Selection After 3-0 Loss to Palace
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Liverpool’s turbulent form continued as they crashed out of the League Cup with a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, but manager Arne Slot stood firm in defending his decision to field a heavily rotated side. The result stretched Liverpool’s poor run to six losses in their last seven games across all competitions, a slide far below what fans consider “Liverpool standards.”
Slot made ten changes to his usual lineup, resting key figures such as Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah entirely. His youthful side struggled to cope against a sharp Palace outfit that has now beaten Liverpool three times this season. Ismaila Sarr punished the Reds with two goals before Yeremy Pino sealed the win late on, moments after substitute Amara Nallo was sent off.
“It’s not Liverpool standards to lose six out of seven,” Slot admitted after the match, acknowledging the disappointment but insisting that his team selection was necessary ahead of a demanding schedule.
Why Did Arne Slot Rotate His Squad So Heavily?
Liverpool’s next fixtures leave little room for recovery. The Reds face in-form Aston Villa on Saturday, welcome Real Madrid to Anfield in the Champions League on Tuesday, and then travel to Manchester City on November 9. Slot emphasized that pushing his senior players through all three matches could have led to greater problems.
“I couldn’t have brought them (the first team regulars) into a situation where they had to go into a week like this,” he explained. “We have a game tonight, then it’s only two days to rest, play the next one, only two days’ rest, play Real Madrid, and then a few more days of Manchester City. Everyone can have his opinion about it, but with the squad we have, maybe 15 or 16 first team players available, this is the choice I’ve made.”
The win puts FA Cup holders Crystal Palace one step closer to another deep domestic run, though they face a tough test in the quarter-finals with an away tie against Arsenal. While Liverpool regroups for a critical stretch that could define their season, Palace continues to build confidence and momentum, proving they can mix it with England’s elite when it matters most.
By Yockshard Enyendi
