LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Arne Slot defended his decision to field his second line after being eliminated from the League Cup following a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace, thus continuing the Reds’ string of poor results.
The Premier League champions have now lost six of their last seven matches in all competitions, including four consecutive defeats in the league.
Slot clearly showed his team’s priorities before kick-off when he made 10 substitutions, with key players such as Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah not even listed in the squad.
The young line-up fielded was easily defeated by Palace, who have now beaten Liverpool three times this season.
Ismaila Sarr scored twice in the first half before Yeremy Pino added a third late in the game after Liverpool substitute Amara Nallo was sent off.
“It’s not Liverpool’s standard to lose six out of seven games,” said Slot, who cited this week’s busy schedule as the reason for his squad selection.
Liverpool now face the mission of ending their losing streak in the Premier League when they meet Aston Villa, who are in good form, this Saturday.
Real Madrid will also visit Anfield in the Champions League next Tuesday before Liverpool visit Manchester City on November 9.
“I can’t put a key player in a situation like this. We have a game tonight, then just two days off before Aston Villa, two more days against Real Madrid and a few days after that against Manchester City.
“Everyone can have their own opinion, but with the squad we have, maybe only 15 or 16 key players available, this is the decision I made,” he said.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace, who are also FA Cup champions, are now eyeing the opportunity to add to their trophy collection after being drawn to face Arsenal away from home in the quarter-finals.