Arne Slot refused to apologise for his team selection after Liverpool were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Crystal Palace following a 3-0 defeat at Anfield.
The Dutchman made ten changes from the side that lost to Brentford, with Milos Kerkez the only survivor. Andy Robertson, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo, Federico Chiesa and Alexis Mac Allister were the senior names, while debutant Freddie Woodman started in goal. Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and several other regulars were rested.
Palace punished the weakened line-up, with Ismaila Sarr scoring twice and Yeremy Pino adding a third. Liverpool’s misery deepened when teenager Amara Nallo was sent off for a professional foul late on.
Slot stood by his decision, citing the congested fixture list and a depleted squad. “It is always a blow to lose, especially when you go out of a competition,” he said. “But it felt like the right decision. We have only 15 or 16 first-team players available, and this club has always used this competition to give minutes to academy players.”
Liverpool have now lost six of their last seven matches in all competitions. Slot, however, dismissed talk of mounting pressure. “At Liverpool there is always pressure,” he said. “It does not get higher after a run like this. What matters now is how we respond.”
The Reds next face Aston Villa before daunting clashes with Real Madrid and Manchester City.
