In the latest rounds of the Carabao Cup, Liverpool face Brighton with a fixture schedule that’s becoming increasingly relentless.
Injuries are mounting, players aren’t back and wanted and Liverpool find themselves in a dilemma that begs the question: should they push their main players or give much-needed minutes to squad players?
While Arne Slot hints at a cautious approach to rotation, Liverpool would be wise to keep their first-team stars fresh for the Premier League grind and European clashes that loom large.
Slot’s recent comments highlight the challenges of balancing a hectic schedule with squad health:
“I don’t think it’s possible to do the same as we did against West Ham for the simple reason that we got some injuries, so we don’t have maybe enough players to change them all if I wanted that.”
He’s right about the physical toll, but that’s precisely why Liverpool should look to bench as many first-team regulars as possible.
The deeper squad players, who rarely get a full 90 minutes, are now the ones who need to take centre stage. If Liverpool drop out of the Carabao Cup, the potential benefits for their season-long objectives might outweigh the short-term disappointment.
Liverpool’s defence, with stalwarts like Van Dijk, Konate, and Alexander-Arnold, has shown resilience but also signs of fatigue.
