Arne Slot Fires Back: Why Liverpool's Squad Depth Critics Are Wrong
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has emphasized he harbors no doubts about his squad's capabilities, clarifying that his recent remarks about squad depth were primarily addressing fitness concerns rather than personnel shortcomings.
Following Wednesday's Carabao Cup elimination by Crystal Palace—marking a sixth loss in seven matches across all tournaments—Slot maintained he lacked the roster depth enjoyed by clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City while defending his contentious team selection.
His statements sparked additional scrutiny, considering the Reds conducted their most costly transfer window ever during the summer to strengthen a squad fresh off a Premier League triumph.
When questioned about perceived squad deficiencies, Slot eagerly seized the chance to elaborate on his position, explaining his concerns centered on injury problems rather than player quality.
"We lack nothing," he stated. "I'm pleased you raised this question because I'm entirely satisfied with our team and the talent we possess, and I'm fully confident in our approach and philosophy. The challenge—if you consider it one—is that not everyone has enjoyed a complete pre-season or avoided injuries.
"When three or four players are sidelined, you're left with 16 available. I strongly believe 20 or 21 players suffices, but maintaining their fitness is crucial, as we managed last season. We're finding it more challenging to keep everyone healthy, in my view, for clear reasons.
"Alex [Isak] exemplifies this perfectly. Several others missed pre-season or sustained injuries during preparation. It's been more challenging than last season to maintain full availability, and when some aren't ready, the burden falls heavily on the same individuals. Perhaps we were more fortunate last season, while now we're experiencing worse luck."
Slot: No Justifications for Liverpool's Poor Run
Slot was equally determined to emphasize that while his concerns about Liverpool's fitness problems are valid, they shouldn't serve as justification for a severe downturn that has seen them plummet from Premier League leaders to seventh place within weeks.
"No justifications for our performances before anyone suggests otherwise," he stated.
"We've faced numerous away fixtures with minimal recovery time, which would have challenged our players last season even with full fitness and complete pre-season preparation, but that hasn't been our reality. This isn't about squad depth—it's about how we've navigated the season regarding injuries and player availability."
Developing match fitness throughout his roster has presented significant difficulties for Slot, who acknowledged he must sometimes take calculated risks because too many players remain behind in their physical preparation.
"Let me cite Alex as an illustration," he elaborated. "He's had to complete pre-season training during the actual season, and critics ask, 'Why select him?' But without playing him, he remains unavailable when needed, forcing us to rely on Hugo [Ekitiké] for every match.
"Owen Hargreaves made an interesting comparison, noting both players featured in 34 matches last season while we play 60 here. Therefore, I must get Alex match-ready as quickly as possible. This situation applies to several other players too.
"Jeremie Frimpong has battled recurring injuries, similar to Conor Bradley, so when one is unavailable, the other must shoulder additional responsibility. That's why I've deployed Dominik Szoboszlai in that role occasionally.
"Every team faces these challenges, so it's not an excuse, but it differs from last season's circumstances. Previously, everyone had at least one year of Premier League experience, started the season fit, and remained healthy. Now, not everyone began in peak condition, and some players must feature more frequently than ideal, increasing their injury risk.
"This is simply our current reality, and we have sufficient quality players available for Saturday, Tuesday, and Sunday fixtures, but I must manage them carefully. That's why I chose to rest certain players recently."