Slot defends Liverpool's squad and playing style amid slump
Liverpool face a crucial match against Aston Villa this weekend, desperately needing a victory. However, manager Arne Slot insists he will not alter his playing style to achieve this.
Slot strongly defended his squad choices following Liverpool's recent poor run. The Reds were eliminated from the EFL Cup by Crystal Palace on Wednesday after a 3-0 defeat at Anfield, marking their sixth loss in seven matches across all competitions.
Several key players, including Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Hugo Ekitike, were absent from the squad, leading to criticism of Slot's selection decisions.
Liverpool now face a challenging schedule before the international break, with upcoming Premier League matches against Aston Villa and Manchester City, along with a Champions League clash hosting Real Madrid.
After losing their last four league games, Liverpool's chances of retaining the Premier League title have diminished, with the Opta supercomputer estimating a 9.7% chance, while Arsenal lead as favorites at 67.8%.
Slot expects to continue rotating his squad due to injury setbacks, emphasizing the necessity of this approach.
"I'm happy with the quality of the team. But I'm also convinced by the strategy and policy we have," Slot said during his press conference. "What makes it 'the issue' – not all of them have had a proper pre-season. When three or four are injured, you go down to having 16 players. I am a firm believer in 21 or 22 players are enough."
Summary: Arne Slot defends his squad choices and playing style despite Liverpool's recent defeats and injury challenges, stressing confidence in his team's quality and strategy.
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