Arne Slot: Liverpool head coach stays defiant on enjoying type, squad choice and depth feedback amid shedding run

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has doubled down on his squad choice and enjoying type regardless of a poor run of type for the Premier League champions.

Wednesday evening’s 3-0 house loss to Crystal Palace within the Carabao Cup was Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven matches in all competitions, with the Reds additionally seven factors behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Slot was criticised for the crew he put out towards Palace, with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Hugo Ekitike among the many host of first-team gamers overlooked of the matchday squad.

But Slot mentioned on Friday – forward of the house sport towards in-form Aston Villa on Saturday – that these modifications have been crucial as Liverpool have been unluckier with accidents than they have been final season.

“I’m happy with the quality of the team. But I’m also convinced by the strategy and policy we have,” mentioned Slot in his press convention.

“What makes it ‘the problem’ – not all of them have had a correct pre-season. When three or 4 are injured, you go all the way down to having 16 gamers.

“I’m a agency believer in 21 or 22 gamers are sufficient. But you must hold them match as we did final season. We are struggling to maintain them match this season for, in my view, apparent causes.

“Alex [Isak] came to us on September 1. A few others missed out in pre-season. It has been more difficult than last season to keep them more available. When players are not available, it [workload] comes down more to the same players.

“Maybe final season we have been extra fortunate [with injuries], this season we’re extra unfortunate. No excuses for outcomes, however we’ve needed to play lots of away video games with solely two days in between. That would have been troublesome final season, and for any participant that has been match this season by way of pre-season, nevertheless it has not been the case this season.

“Then you have to manage it. The upcoming week is three games in eight days. It has nothing to do with squad depth, but it has how we have run through the season in terms of injuries, availability and playing every two or three days.

“That has been one thing what each crew has. It’s not an excuse for us. What was a bit totally different than final season is final season all of them had one 12 months Premier League expertise at least – and so they all stayed match.

“Now they weren’t all fit from the start, then some players have to play more than you want them to do, which is a risk for them getting injured as well.

“But it’s what it’s. We have greater than sufficient gamers on Saturday to get a consequence, to play the sport on Tuesday and Sunday. But I’ve to care for just a few of them. That’s why I made a decision to not play seven or eight gamers just a few days in the past.”

Slot confirmed that Ryan Gravenberch could come back into the team to face Villa on Saturday after returning to training on Thursday, but Curtis Jones and Alexander Isak are “99.9 per cent” out.

‘It goes against my beliefs’ – Slot on playing style

Slot also admitted he will not change Liverpool’s playing style, amid this poor run of games.

He said after last weekend’s 3-2 defeat to Brentford that his side are struggling to deal with long balls and low blocks.

Brentford also managed 17 shots on the Liverpool goal – the most they have managed all season – but Slot says his side are not going to play more defensively.

“It [going defensive to be less open] does go against my beliefs,” he mentioned. “But I’ve won games in the past – Man City away for example [last season] – where it went against my beliefs but it was necessary to play it in the second half.

“I’d be greater than open to adapt in sure conditions. But I do not suppose the story is we concede likelihood after likelihood after likelihood and we’re too open. It’s not like this.

“Maybe towards Palace when within the first half we must always have be 2-0 down or 3-0 down, perhaps Brentford too. But all the opposite video games we deserved greater than what we acquired.

“We barely concede chances – even against Palace [in midweek] with the team I put out. I think they only conceded three big chances – and all three went in because they were big.

“I do not see us conceding lots of possibilities, so I do not see a motive to vary our enjoying type fully. But we have to do higher at not conceding objectives.”

Have Slot’s contract talks stalled?

Slot also addressed rumours over his Liverpool future in an eventful press conference.

Reports emerged in midweek that the Dutchman was in talks with the club over an extension – but the recent run of poor form has led to those negotiations being parked for now.

Slot refused to be drawn on those rumours – but did admit his immediate focus is getting the team’s results back on track.

“That was the final query I used to be anticipating. My focus is absolutely again on getting Liverpool again to successful methods. That’s my first reply.

“The second answer is: contract talks – if they are even there – we never speak about this here [in press conferences]. Let us first start to win again. That’s where my main focus is on.”

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