Arne Slot Defends Liverpool Lineup Changes, Cites Obvious Reasons & Refereeing Concerns
MANCHESTER - New Liverpool manager Arne Slot has explained the rationale behind the notable changes to his starting lineups, stating the reasons are “so obvious” and expressing frustration that the topic is even a point of discussion. Slot also subtly referenced perceived unfavorable refereeing decisions impacting his team, following observations during recent matches.
Slot clarified he avoids publicly discussing players from other clubs to prevent media scrutiny of those teams, stating, “I will not do [that] becuase then journalists will go to the club and say ‘Arne Slot said something about your players…’!” He emphasized his decisions are based on clear factors, adding, “Its so obvious for me, and I’m a bit more, you can maybe feel it, a bit like ‘Jesus, why don’t you see these things? Why are you talking about me changing?’ when it’s so obvious why.” He specifically noted that center-backs Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk have maintained their places due to the relative ease of playing consistently in their positions.
regarding specific player rotations, Slot explained that Ryan Gravenberch’s absence from the starting lineup in the season’s first game was due to becoming a father, leading to Curtis Jones being selected. He further detailed that Jones was suspended for the first Premier League match against Crystal Palace due to a yellow card received for a dive in the previous season’s final game.
Slot then alluded to a recent incident involving Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jnr, stating, “I want to talk about the last game when I saw a dive (from Vinicius Jnr), which 100% should have been a second yellow, which I never hear as well about how many referee decisions have gone against us in the last six or seven weeks, but… now I’ve said that…”
Forward Alexander Isak is expected to be available only as a substitute for Sunday’s match against manchester City. Meanwhile, Cody Gakpo, Milos Kerkez, and Curtis Jones are all vying for starting positions.
