Only 12 Liverpool players have started a competitive fixture for Arne Slot so far, but this next phase of the season should offer a far greater insight into the new boss’ approach to rotation and utilisation of his squad.
By Matt Ladson, ThisIsAnfield.com
After three opening games of the season were played with a week in between each, no such luxury will be afforded to Liverpool or any other side for the rest of the season. The Reds, in fact, face seven fixtures in 22 days between this and the next international break in October.
In Slot’s own words, it is “only three games played, only games from Saturday to Sunday or Sunday to Sunday; there’s still a lot for us to prove if you’re going to play [in the] Champions League.”
Fortunately for Liverpool, on paper it looks like a kind run of fixtures coming up, with four of the seven at home and league matches being against Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Wolves and Crystal Palace.
However, there are also two Champions League games (away to AC Milan and at home to Bologna), plus the Carabao Cup (at home to West Ham) to contend with, plus another 12.30pm Saturday kick-off – which arrives after a Wednesday evening fixture.
It’s fair to say, then, that by the time of the October international break we will have a much clearer picture of how Slot will navigate competing in four competitions with Liverpool, and how much he is prepared to rotate his squad.
The likes of Harvey Elliott (who has played just seven minutes so far), Wataru Endo (one minute), Jarell Quansah (45 minutes), Kostas Tsimikas (18 minutes), Cody Gakpo (53 minutes), Conor Bradley (45 minutes) and Darwin Núñez (32 minutes) will also have a clearer indication of just what their roles are within the squad.
Beyond those, Joe Gomez, Caoimhin Kelleher, Curtis Jones and new signing Federico Chiesa will be hoping to have got their first minutes of the season, too.
Slot has shown already in these three opening games though that he is taking a long-term approach to managing the workload of players, evidenced most notably by the substitution of Trent Alexander-Arnold in the opening home game against Brentford in the 72nd minute.
“We need him for the whole season,” assessed Slot post-match, before adding: “We are taking care of Trent.”
Trent was replaced by Bradley again for the final 15 minutes at Old Trafford a week later, this time leaving the pitch looking much happier. Slot will have explained the reasonings for his approach.
It’s only two years ago that Alexander-Arnold was actually subbed just before the hour in a Merseyside derby which ended 0-0. “We have to [manage his minutes], where can we change in the moment with the players coming in and coming back,” said Jürgen Klopp at the time.
The former Reds boss had said in the summer of 2020: “Robbo and Trent, let’s say, they cannot play every season 50-something games – it would limit their careers, to be honest, even when they come through.”
Slot, though, appears more likely to bring a player such as Trent off early in a game rather than start with their deputy, if we are judging by his time at Feyenoord at least where the Dutchman wasn’t exactly huge on rotation.
The focus appears to be more on managing minutes than the rotation of starting players from match to match. Although, that could well be something that Slot’s approach to changes given the quality of players at his disposal at Anfield.
A Liverpool ‘second XI’ of Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, Gomez, Tsimikas, Endo, Jones, Elliott, Chiesa, Núñez, Gakpo isn’t exactly something that would be a weak lineup to use, especially in the Carabao Cup.
Slot has offered a warning, too, in his post-match comments after the 2-0 win at Man United, saying: I don’t want to be the one that spoils everything, but two years ago was the last season that we played Champions League and we all know how that season ended.”
Clearly, the 45-year-old is well aware of the history of the squad in terms of their workload in recent seasons.
One person who will play a key role in Slot’s approach is Ruben Peeters, the Reds’ head of performance who followed Slot from Feyenoord and is credited with multiple interesting methods of improving player availability, from looking at a player’s gut health, their sleep patterns, their gait and more.
Peeters’ methods in training have already seen an increase in physical exercises, utilising rugby-style tackle pads and medicine balls. Fewer injuries will certainly improve Slot’s chances of success this season.
(Images from IMAGO)
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