1 day ago
37
Arne Slot didn’t bother hiding his secret relief that Liverpool is not competing in the Carabao Cup this week.
The Reds went all the way to last season’s final, but the physical exertion took its toll on the team. Days prior to that Wembley loss against Newcastle United, a jaded Liverpool had also seen another hope of silverware snuffed out when it exited the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.
This season, it has been a different story, of course. The procession Liverpool demonstrated in Premier League games for the majority of last season has been replaced by a jitteriness. Performances and results suffered.
While both have improved of late, the dismal spell of nine defeats in 12 across the autumn months left some wondering whether Slot would be able to survive the downturn. Among the low points was the 3-0 Carabao Cup loss to Crystal Palace at home, as a patched-up Liverpool side was meekly eliminated.
Given the intense fixture list, Slot felt he needed to rest the majority of his regulars for that period.
It’s a concern he still shares. Liverpool played 21 games in seven days after the November international break, and the impact of that schedule is evident in the squad.
There have been four new injury issues in the last week alone, in addition to the absences of Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni. Conor Bradley was suspended at the weekend, Dominik Szoboszlai is one game away from a ban, while Mohamed Salah’s departure for the Africa Cup of Nations has reduced options further.
Liverpool needs a chance to catch its breath. Thankfully, the team’s wishes are set to be granted, courtesy of that dreary Carabao Cup exit a few days before Halloween.
Had Liverpool progressed, a daunting midweek trip to Arsenal would have awaited. Instead, a few days off, some recuperation and perhaps a rare chance to work on tactics, shape and the like could have huge benefits for Slot.
As luck would have it, Liverpool faces two consecutive weeks without a midweek fixture, the first since August – excluding international breaks.
“I think it is helpful in the upcoming weeks we don't play as many games as we did until now,” Slot admitted on Friday ahead of the Brighton & Hove Albion game.
“I am almost happy that we're out of the League Cup, because if we had to play with 13 outfield players available with any Premier League experience and we have to go [to] Arsenal away on Tuesday again after already so many games played; maybe people can understand a little bit better why I made that line-up against Palace, which wasn't good for me but I did another decision I made for the team,” he added, in reference to the criticism of his weakened team selection for that fourth-round tie.
“Sometimes players need rest as well. Look at Dominik, look at Virgil [van Dijk], look at Ibou [Konate], look at Ryan [Gravenberch], they have played so many minutes because other ones weren't available.
“So, it's good for them that we go now to a run of games where there is one week rest in between. And players will come back from injuries and when they are back from injuries there's more to choose from as well.”
Asked about his plans for this week, Slot also implied he wants to prepare thoroughly for Saturday’s game against Tottenham Hotspur and allow his players to rest as much as possible.
“It's safe to say that some of these players have played so many minutes that I don't think my performance staff will tell me, 'OK, let's go out in the upcoming two weeks and train twice a day.'
“I don't think that's what they're going to advise me. So yes, there will be more playing time [in training], so there's more time to prepare for a game.”
English (US) ·