Liverpool manager Arne Slot
Liverpool manager Arne Slot
Arne Slot has revealed he is skating on thin ice in terms of defensive injuries going into Wednesday night's encounter with Newcastle United at St James' Park.
Both Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate won't play on Tyneside with both out until 2025 but Dutchman Slot only has five defenders available to him. Slot revealed he took Trent Alexander-Arnold off early to preserve him for the battle against Newcastle.
Slot said: "That's why I took Trent off after 70 minutes. He was able to play longer. He played a very good game and defended really well and was a major threat in attack. He played the ball to Mo Salah which led to 1-0.
"But knowing that we play Newcastle Wednesday then Everton in a Merseyside derby with only five defenders available, we have to take care of them. We have a big week coming up with Newcastle and Everton.
Liverpool go into the meeting at St James' as Premier League leaders and hold a nine-point lead over Arsenal. Having beaten Real Madrid in the Champions League and Manchester City in the top-flight, they are favourites to keep their winning run intact.
However, Slot refused to get carried away last night and said: "We are a compatible team and it is difficult to beat us, but also we have to put the effort in.
"But we have injuries, we had to take Trent [Alexander-Arnold] off. It would have been a risk. These are the challenges we face at the moment, but every team has to face these challenges over a season."