Liverpool’s losing run continued on Wednesday night after a Carabao Cup elimination at Anfield.
The writing was perhaps on the wall when Slot named his team for the clash, an XI that featured 10 changes from the weekend and two debutants. Ismaïla Sarr’s double and a first Crystal Palace goal from Yéremy Pino sealed a comfortable 3-0 victory for the visitors, increasing the pressure on Liverpool, who have now lost six of their last seven.
Slot, in essence, sacrificed cup progression to hand his big hitters a rest ahead of a crucial run of games. In-form Aston Villa are next up at Anfield this Saturday evening, before headline clashes with Real Madrid and Manchester City. Slot knows his side’s poor run of results cannot continue across those games.
The Dutchman was showered with praise after winning the Premier League last season. Slot stepped seamlessly into Jurgen Klopp’s shoes, and offered a cool and class when addressing the often intense English media.
As results have dipped this season, that cool has heated up a little. His comments on the recent approach of Manchester United felt a little ‘sore loser’, even if there was praise of Brentford’s set-piece threat after another defeat in West London.
This week, however, Slot chose to point out the depth in rival’s squads as justification for rotating the Reds against Palace. Even given some notable absences, a record-breaking summer spend means there will be few violins out for the Merseysiders.
0-3 – Tonight was the first time Liverpool lost a domestic cup match at Anfield by three goals without scoring since February 1934 in a 3-0 defeat to Bolton in the FA Cup. Uncommon. pic.twitter.com/1eCu7exUj9
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 29, 2025
“I said this also for the television that before I went out I saw [Manchester] City’s line-up and I don’t think they had one starter from the weekend, but it felt as if you looked at their line-up that they played with 11 starters,” he said.
“Maybe it also gives a little bit of insight that everybody has always said how big of a squad we are having.
“When we played Chelsea, I said they are missing eight but they can still bring Estevao in. We are only missing four players at the moment and already we needed to start with four players under the age of 19 and after I made two substitutions we were on six.”
Slot’s comments may be a deflection tactic away from his struggling side. But excuses, regardless of their intent, will not wash.
Liverpool spent £446m in the summer – the most ever spent by a Premier League club in a single window. Their business included twice breaking the British record, first for Florian Wirtz, latterly for Alexander Isak. Neither are yet to get going in a red shirt.
Similarly, summer arrivals Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have disappointed. The former has looked a shadow of the star seen at Bournemouth last season, while Frimpong is currently sidelined after an underwhelming start at Anfield.
There’s too much talent in the Liverpool ranks for results to not improve. Slot, however, must take more accountability. Questionable substitutions and a loyalty to underperforming players have been features of recent results.
The 47-year-old’s gamble on team selection against Crystal Palace has added pressure ahead of an upcoming run that could define their season. Already seven points behind Arsenal in the title race, there is little room for error.
The time is now.
Read – Arne Slot explains Liverpool decisions following Crystal Palace defeat
See more – Carabao Cup quarter-final draw: Arsenal host Crystal Palace
