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Arne Slot Defends Rotation Gamble as Liverpool’s Carabao Cup Exit Raises Questions

Arne Slot’s first season at Liverpool could hardly have gone better, with the Dutchman delivering a Premier League title in stunning fashion. But the glow of that triumph has quickly faded. The champions are faltering, and Slot’s decision to rest key players in the Carabao Cup has only intensified scrutiny.

Liverpool’s 3–0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield marked their sixth loss in seven matches — a stark contrast to the fluent, confident side that stormed to the title last season. Slot’s heavy rotation, featuring three teenagers in the starting lineup and five more on the bench, backfired as a young and disjointed team were comfortably swept aside.

Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, and new signing Florian Wirtz were among those rested, as the Reds exited a competition they had won twice in the past four seasons. Palace, led by Oliver Glasner, took full advantage, with Ismaïla Sarr scoring twice before halftime and Yeremy Pino adding a late third to compound Liverpool’s misery.

Despite the setback, Slot stood by his selection. “This club has always used this competition for academy players,” he insisted. “It felt the right decision, and I’ve not changed my opinion because we lost.”

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock disagreed. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, he described Slot’s reasoning as “making excuses.” Warnock added: “You’re a Champions League team complaining about fixture congestion. If the squad isn’t strong enough, then the summer recruitment wasn’t good enough.”

Liverpool’s transfer outlay — over £400 million — makes that critique sting even more. Ex-Scotland winger Pat Nevin suggested Slot’s choices reflected his priorities. “He’s made it clear the Carabao Cup isn’t as important as what’s ahead,” Nevin said. “With Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Manchester City all coming up in the next 10 days, Slot’s focus is elsewhere.”

The schedule is indeed brutal. Liverpool have lost four straight Premier League games and now sit seventh. Defeat to Villa this weekend would mark their worst domestic run since 1953. Still, Slot brushed off suggestions that rotation increased pressure. “When you manage Liverpool, the pressure is always there,” he said. “This week will be huge for us. We needed to protect players for it.”

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, meanwhile, dismissed talk of Liverpool fielding a weakened side. “It’s disrespectful,” he said. “I’ve seen Gomez, Endo, Mac Allister, and Chiesa play at the highest level. That was still a top Liverpool team.”

Ultimately, Slot’s gamble will be judged by what happens next. If Liverpool bounce back with strong performances against Villa and Real Madrid, the criticism will fade. If not, the questions over his rotation policy — and his handling of a £400m squad — will only grow louder.

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