Arne Slot gave away some major hints about his team selection on Tuesday ahead of the Carabao Cup clash against Southampton.
With such a heavy fixture schedule, rotation will be vital for Liverpool over the coming weeks, especially with injuries starting to mount up. And Slot’s admission that those who have played regular minutes could be given a night off at St Mary’s indicates there will be wholesale changes.
The Dutchman confirmed Caoimhin Kelleher will return to the team, and all but said Wataru Endo will start. The likes of Jarell Quansah, Harvey Elliott and Tyler Morton could also earn rare starts, while Federico Chiesa is expected to earn minutes after returning from injury at the weekend.
But it’s in defense where the issues are beginning to stack up. Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley are still injured, Kostas Tsmikas remains a doubt, while Andrew Robertson is suspended. It means Slot could hand youngsters an opportunity, particularly at left-back.
There was a further hint that it could be a youthful squad on Wednesday when Trey Nyoni, James McConnell, Jayden Danns, James Norris and Amara Nallo were left out the Under-21 squad for Monday’s game at Crystal Palace, meaning the quintet are likely to be involved with the senior team on at Southampton.
Slot was asked specifically about Nallo and Norris in Tuesday’s press conference and replied: “You talk about these two now but I think we have a few others who have made a good impact in our training sessions.
“We’ve used them like Trey [Nyoni] has already been used in the League Cup. I am aware that we only have four defenders available, and probably the ones who have started a lot of times will not play 90 minutes for sure and maybe not at all.
Arne Slot
Arne Slot has several selection choices to make against Southampton. (Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“It will probably be academy players who are going to play or it will be players not that nobody would expect to see in the last line who are going to play tomorrow.”
While the defensive absences are clearly a concern for Liverpool, the opportunity it could present the club’s youngsters should be viewed as a positive - three of the Reds’ current eight senior defenders progressed through the youth ranks and shone when given a chance in the first team.
The alternative for Slot would be to select a back three and wing-backs, an option he deployed at Anfield on Saturday following Robertson’s red card. Again, while far from ideal, reconfiguring the team’s tactical make-up has an upside, and greater tactical flexibility is definitely a positive.
Rival Manchester City is currently showing the issues that can occur from being overly reliant on one style of play. With key men either injured or underperforming, Pep Guardiola has been unable to find a different set up. Despite the absences of Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne, the City manager has instructed his players to continue with the same plan, with disastrous consequences.
These selection issues for Slot could oddly help avoid that situation, and being able to utilize a 3-5-2, in the long run, might prove hugely beneficial.