Arne Slot defends Liverpool squad amid mounting pressure
Arne Slot has insisted he is fully satisfied with his Liverpool squad — in both quality and depth — after being accused of “making excuses” for his team’s poor form following recent comments about rival clubs, reports BritPanorama.
The Dutchman faced criticism on Wednesday night when discussing the squad depth at Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea after heavily rotating his side for the Carabao Cup, making 10 changes and leaving most senior players out of the matchday squad.
This commentary sparked frustration among supporters and critics alike, particularly given Liverpool’s record £446 million summer spending and their ongoing run of six defeats in seven games.
Ahead of this weekend’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa, Slot clarified his stance, stressing that he remains content with his players. “We miss nothing. I am completely happy with the team, with all the quality we have, and I am completely convinced by the strategy and the policy we have,” he stated. He attributed the team’s struggles to several players not having a proper pre-season.
Slot elaborated on the challenges of managing fitness within a demanding schedule, stating, “I’m a firm believer that 20 or 21 players are enough, but you have to keep them fit as we did last season. We’re struggling to keep them fit now for, in my opinion, obvious reasons.” He used Alexander Isak as an example, noting that injuries and a lack of pre-season played significant roles in the team’s current struggles.
The intensity of the fixture list has also taken a toll, with Slot mentioning the difficulties of a congested schedule: “We had to play a lot of away games with only two days’ rest in between. That would have been difficult for any team, even for players who had a full pre-season.”
Currently, Liverpool finds itself in a challenging position, experiencing the most testing phase of Slot’s managerial career. Historically, he has never been on the losing end of more than two consecutive matches, even during his successful spells in Dutch football.
He addressed speculation regarding contract discussions, stating, “My focus is completely on getting Liverpool back to winning ways. My second answer is that contract talks, if they are there, are not something we ever speak about here.”
Liverpool’s injury list remains significant ahead of the Villa match, with Alexander Isak and Curtis Jones unavailable, while Jeremie Frimpong, Alisson, and Giovanni Leoni are longer-term absentees. However, midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has returned to training and could be included in the squad for the crucial fixture.
As Liverpool’s season hangs in the balance, Slot’s resolve to stabilise results and restore belief within his squad will critically define the coming weeks. The challenge now is not just about the players on the pitch, but also navigating the storm of expectations off it — a balance that, in football, can prove just as elusive.
