Liverpool manager Arne Slot is under increasing pressure following a disappointing run of results, with critics accusing him of “making excuses” after his weakened team crashed out of the Carabao Cup with a 3-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace.
Just months after guiding Liverpool to a sensational Premier League title in his debut season, Slot now finds himself in crisis. The Reds have lost six of their past seven matches in all competitions, and questions are mounting about his squad management and tactical decisions.
Liverpool’s Carabao Cup Exit Raises Eyebrows
Slot’s decision to rest key players including Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, and Hugo Ekitike backfired as his young side were comfortably beaten at Anfield.
Liverpool, winners of the League Cup twice in the past four years, fielded a side featuring three teenagers — Rio Ngumoha (17), Trey Nyoni (18), and Kieran Morrison (18) — and made ten changes from the team that lost 3-2 at Brentford days earlier.
Despite a promising start, Ismaila Sarr scored twice before halftime, and 18-year-old defender Amara Nallo was sent off early in the second half, ending hopes of a comeback. Yeremy Pino added a late third to complete Palace’s emphatic win.
Slot defended his team selection, arguing it was consistent with Liverpool’s long-standing approach to blooding young talent in the competition.
“This club has always used this competition for academy players,” Slot said post-match. “It felt like the right decision, and I’ve not changed my opinion because we lost.”
Critics Accuse Slot of ‘Making Excuses’
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock was among the first to criticise Slot’s remarks, suggesting that the Dutchman’s explanation was “deflecting responsibility.”
“Arne Slot has almost admitted the squad isn’t strong enough,” Warnock said on BBC Radio 5 Live. “You’re a Champions League side — you know games come thick and fast. There were a lot of excuses in there.”
Liverpool’s £400m summer spending spree had raised expectations, but Warnock argued that the recruitment focused too heavily on star players rather than building a deep, balanced squad.
Former Scotland international Pat Nevin echoed that view, saying the result showed the Carabao Cup was a low priority for Slot this season.
“Liverpool fans will realise it’s not a focus,” Nevin said. “They’ve already won it twice recently, and the big push now is clearly the Premier League and Champions League.”
Pressure Mounts Ahead of Crucial Week
The timing of the defeat could not be worse. Liverpool now face a gruelling 10-day stretch with games against Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Manchester City — fixtures that could define their season.
Slot dismissed claims that resting his top players was a mistake, insisting that player welfare and fixture congestion forced his hand.
“If you manage Liverpool, you know the pressure is always there,” he said. “I only rested players who had played heavily last week. With injuries, this was the line-up we had.”
Liverpool currently sit seventh in the Premier League after four straight defeats — their worst league run in over a decade. Another loss at home to Aston Villa would mark their worst sequence since 1953, when they suffered five consecutive defeats.
Palace Boss Defends Liverpool Line-Up
While many saw Slot’s side as under-strength, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner rejected that suggestion, calling it “disrespectful” to his players.
“I’ve seen Joe Gomez play for England, Alexis Mac Allister win the World Cup, and Chiesa start for Italy,” Glasner said. “It was still a very good Liverpool side. Everyone who plays for Liverpool is top level.”
Glasner praised his team’s tactical discipline and defensive strength, saying Palace “deserved all the credit” for the win.
Can Slot Turn Liverpool’s Season Around?
Despite growing scrutiny, Slot insists his focus remains on the long term. He highlighted fatigue, fixture congestion, and adaptation challenges in a “new-look squad” as contributing factors.
“Our squad is probably not as big as people think,” he admitted. “It’s a new challenge to play Premier League and Champions League football every three days.”
Nevertheless, the calls for results are growing louder. With Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Manchester City looming, Slot knows that failure to reverse Liverpool’s slide could see pressure escalate from fans and pundits alike.
As Warnock summed up:
“If Liverpool beat Villa and Real Madrid, this decision will look smart. But if results don’t turn, the fans will lose patience fast.”
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