Liverpool continue their poor form, with a 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup.
Arne Slot named a much-changed side from the team that lost 3-2 against Brentford in the Premier League at the weekend.
Despite his changed team selection, the result was the same, but Slot defended his selection, while admitting his team’s form is far below Liverpool’s standards.
What did Slot say about his team?
Speaking after the defeat to Palace, Slot said, “Last time we played Southampton here in the League Cup, Leoni got injured, and we don’t have such a big squad as people might tell, because there was so much focus on the amount of money we spent.
“People all of a sudden think we have 25 players available but we mainly have 20 players then we have four injuries.
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“Are you willing to take that risk with such a big week coming up? Last time I played a player that wasn’t fully prepared – we thought he was prepared, but it was the first time – Alexander Isak, he got injured.
“Last time we played Southampton, Leoni was injured, and it was a red card for Hugo Ekitike. Those are the things we can’t use with a big week coming up.
“But there’s always a choice. What if I had played Virgil and Ibou, for example, if one of them got injured, people would have said, ‘What a stupid choice.’ And also with them it was very difficult for us, for our starters to beat Palace because it’s not the first time we lose against them.”
Slot admitted that Liverpool are playing below the level they should be playing at. The manager said, “It’s not of Liverpool’s standards to lose five out of six, or six out of seven. It might increase a little bit, but not so much because the pressure was already very high for the upcoming week, when we have to face three difficult teams.
“The good thing, maybe, is we can do this in eight days. All the other times it was seven days because in two days we play the next game again.
“Everybody can have his opinion about it, but with the squad we have – maybe 15, 16 first-team players available – this is the choice I’ve made.”
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