Slot confirms a number of stars won’t play midweek | OneFootball

Slot Plans Rotation Ahead of League Cup Test

Liverpool’s demanding return from the international break has highlighted the importance of squad depth, with Arne Slot confirming that five of his senior players will be rested for the midweek League Cup clash against Southampton.

After navigating three matches in the space of seven days — victories over Burnley, Atletico Madrid and Everton — the Dutchman will use rotation to manage fatigue and maintain momentum across competitions.

Rotation Central to Liverpool’s Strategy

Slot has made no secret of his commitment to careful squad management. In the Merseyside derby, he altered his line-up by four players, and the midweek League Cup fixture is set to bring at least five more changes.

Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah have all been earmarked for rest, having accumulated 270 minutes each over the past week. Slot stressed that such management is vital when competing both domestically and in Europe.

Photo by IMAGO

“This is why the teams that are playing in Europe need a squad like this,” he explained after the 2-1 victory over Everton. “It’s not an excuse — we have to accept it as it is. But the good thing is that I have the options to rotate throughout the week.”

Slot’s Assessment of Recent Performances

Liverpool’s first-half display against Everton offered an example of their attacking sharpness when fresh, with goals from Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike setting the tone. Everton responded after the interval through Idrissa Gueye, but the Reds held firm.

Slot admitted the physical toll of the congested schedule was evident in the second half. “If you play your third game in less than seven days, against your rivals, then you know the second half could be tough,” he said. “That’s why I used my line-ups the way I did, to prepare players for this match.”

Despite signs of fatigue, he praised the mentality of his squad: “The first 45 minutes were unbelievable, the way we played. The second half was more difficult because of Everton, but also because we ran a bit out of energy. We didn’t run out of mentality.”

Focus Shifts to Southampton

Liverpool’s depth will again be tested as the League Cup tie approaches. Slot has already made clear that Southampton will not face the same quintet who shouldered the heaviest workload last week.

By rotating his squad, Slot is attempting to strike a balance between protecting key players and providing opportunities to those on the fringes. Such a strategy is essential for clubs contesting multiple fronts, where the accumulation of fixtures leaves little margin for error in managing fitness and form.

Liverpool will hope that their adjusted line-up can sustain the winning momentum, while ensuring that senior figures remain sharp for the challenges that lie ahead.