Liverpool are on a run of five defeats in six games and Arne Slot has a difficult decision to make over this team selection against Crystal Palace in the League Cup this evening
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
View Image
If the opening months of Arne Slot's debut campaign were about surprisingly shifting expectations, the same could be said about his sophomore season. The reason, though, couldn't be any more different.
Now the Liverpool boss faces a difficult call this evening as his new-look team face a crossroads few would have realistically seen coming at such a formative stage of the season.
While teething troubles were inevitable given the sheer scope of change - as much through necessity as design - to the Reds squad, not even Slot had envisaged quite the problems with which he has been faced in recent weeks.
Not since the dismal autumn of 2009 have Liverpool suffered such a losing run as present, with the Reds hoping to avoid matching that dreadful sequence of six defeats in seven when they entertain Crystal Palace in the League Cup fourth round this evening.
Circumstances have dictated a competition long regarded as fourth in Liverpool's list of priorities - perhaps even more so during the summer having reached the final the last two seasons - has instead assumed greater importance.
And having taken a number of selection gambles in recent weeks in an attempt to drag his team out of their stupor, Slot must decide whether or not to continue his regular approach to the early rounds of the competition by playing a shadow team and risk more short-term pain with the anticipated pay-off of keeping key players fresh for the remaining three games ahead of next month's international break.
In truth, the hands of the Reds boss may be somewhat tied. Alexander Isak is expected to remain on the sidelines along with Alisson Becker, Giovanni Leoni and Jeremie Frimpong, Curtis Jones is a major doubt after being forced off in the 3-2 Premier League loss at Brentford on Saturday with a groin issue while it's unlikely Ryan Gravenberch will be risked having missed the last two games with an ankle issue.
Joe Gomez, Federico Chiesa, Wataru Endo and teenage duo Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha all started the 2-1 home win over Southampton in the last round and are likely to again feature, and there could be an opening for 19-year-old winger Kieran Morrison, who was on the bench at Brentford having had a hand in all five goals for the U19s in their UEFA Youth League win at Eintracht Frankfurt a few days earlier.
Alexis Mac Allister's need for minutes means he could make a start that would have been unlikely just weeks ago, while a big call will be on who is in goal. Twelve months ago, when Alisson was out with a hamstring problem, deputy Caoimhin Kelleher was rested with Vitezslav Jaros given a first Liverpool start in a 3-2 win at Brighton.
Should Slot replicate that approach, it would mean a debut for summer signing Freddie Woodman ahead of Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Palace, of course, have been integral in highlighting the flaws in Liverpool's campaign to date. The manner of their victory, albeit ultimately on penalties, in the Community Shield at Wembley in August indicated the Reds remain a work in progress, while the dramatic Premier League win at Selhurst Park ended Liverpool's 100% start to their title defence and planted the first seeds of doubt that contributed to Slot's side not winning a point since.
That clash more than a month ago was between the only two teams unbeaten in the Premier League at that time. Since then, however, both teams have won only one game each in any competition, suggesting both were in something of a false position.
Portents indicate a tough watch for the Anfield faithful, with Liverpool having triumphed in only one of their last five games against Palace.
And while nobody will claim victory tonight would represent a corner being turned, it would be a step in the right direction. The League Cup could resonate for the Reds once again.