Liverpool head coach Arne Slot admits he broke with his same old preparation strategies by making plans two games at the same time after naming a weakened opposing PSV Eindhoven side.
His Champions League leaders, the only team to win all seven matches, are guaranteed to finish no lower than second and having assessed the potential implications for the last 16 he decided the return to his homeland was a game he could gamble on.
Saturday to Bournemouth turns high, it’s the ultimate vital adjustment this week, while Liverpool look to maintain their six-point lead with the sensible maximum and, for this reason, left nine of the team that beat Ipswich 4-1 at home.
Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz have all been given Wednesday off in order to have some much-needed downtime, with this the eight game of nine in 27 days.
Defender Joe Gómez also stayed at home after returning after lacking seven games with an injury to the hamstrings.
The location asked if he feared the possibility of dealing with the Dutch champions and the existing eredivisia heads without the maximum of his main stars.
“I wouldn’t say I’m afraid. It took me to perceive this new format, but I’m one hundred percent sure that it doesn’t matter at all if we finish one or two; the result does not matter,” he says.
“We play opposite to the PSV, then Bournemouth and then Tottenham (in the semifinal returns from the Cábao Cup).
“I’m especially working on PSV and Bournemouth and this is exceptional as normally I would only be looking at PSV – but I’m looking at Bournemouth as well.
“All the ones who I left behind could have played tomorrow but if you look back at our season almost every three, four or five weeks we gave them a break if there was a moment to give them some freshness back.
“They will be off tomorrow, if it is possible we prefer to have them off three days before a game but it is not always possible, and a few staff members will go home earlier on Thursday morning to train those that have stayed behind.”
Among the team of 21 locations, the players of Jayden Danns and Trey Nyoni Academy, who have given the impression on the first team this season, Kieran Morrison, Isaac Mabaya, Trent Kone-Doherty, Amara Nallo, James Norris and James McConnell.
It leaves senior players Andy Robertson, Wataru Endo, Kostas Tsimikas, Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa, former PSV forward Cody Gakpo and 21-year-olds Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah bearing the responsibility.
“Because we basically start with (the same) thirteen or 14 players have shared the maximum game time, so it is very useful for those who have not played so much to have 90 minutes,” added Slot.
“Because if we have injury disorders, they will be necessary and that is helping us in the long run.
“They do not want to go out, we know the qualities of the players who will play tomorrow.
“It would be if the organization had the same point as the other games, however, they could win opposites to Southampton and Brighton in the League Cup.
“And to bring Cody Gakpo. Think of a feeling here, but did not play with Lille last week. “
Gakpo is returning to Eindhoven, where he spent five years, for the first time since his January 2023 move to Merseyside.
“Very strange,” he when he asked how he would feel.
“I’ve never been in the away dressing room so it will be my first time. But when the game starts I think all those things will fade away and we will be focused on the game and we are going for the win.”
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