Arne Slot’s tenure at Liverpool has so far been pretty close to flawless, give or take the odd bump in the road. He’s facing his first serious set of questions now though - albeit, most of them are coming from outside of Anfield.
The Dutchman’s selection at Plymouth has caused quite a stir following the Reds’ shock defeat in the FA Cup at the weekend. The word ‘disrespect’ has been thrown around a lot over the last 24 hours or so after Slot decided to make 10 changes to his side following the Carabao Cup semi-final win over Tottenham, while electing not to take the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk or Ryan Gravenberch with him to Devon.
Did Slot really underestimate the Championship’s bottom side? Only he will know, but the reality that the majority of Liverpool fans will no doubt recognize is that he absolutely made the right decision in resting those big names.
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It would be quite hypocritical of us if we suggested otherwise, given we advocated for sweeping changes to the team ahead of the game. And while some sections of the UK media might bemoan what they see as the FA Cup being devalued again, the simple fact of the matter is that this was Slot’s only opportunity to make those changes.
Like it or not, the FA Cup is not top of Liverpool’s priorities this season. With a six-point lead in the Premier League - which could become nine points if they beat Everton tomorrow night - claiming the title from Manchester City is the big prize, while there should be every reason to believe they can go far in the Champions League, if not win it.
With the Carabao Cup final coming up next month, and a chance for Slot to claim some silverware at the first time of asking, the FA Cup was realistically the only chance to rest his biggest stars ahead of what could be a decisive run-in. A chance of a quadruple would have been pretty special, but trying to juggle all the other games that would have come as a result could have proved disastrous for Liverpool’s biggest priorities, as Jamie Carragher knows all too well.
“For me, I know it sounds terrible. I was not too fussed if we’d have gotten knocked out by Southampton,” Carragher told the An Echo Of Glory podcast back in December after the Reds booked their spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals. “I really wasn’t. I’m terrified of all these cups piling up on us.”
Carragher added: “So if I’m Slot, if he wins the league, he’s a Liverpool legend, he’s done. Don’t let it worry us for the next four years or whatever our work is here. You know, if he wins the Carabao Cup, he’s not going to move the dial that much.
“It’s nice to win a trophy. But for me, I wouldn’t want anything to get in the way of the league. And I’m only saying that because of the position Liverpool find themselves in.”
Slot might be facing some criticism - some of it wildly off the mark considering he was let down by what was still a pretty strong set of players - but he just needs to keep Carragher’s words in mind. In fact, over the next 15 days, he can prove exactly why he made the right decision at Plymouth.
Liverpool faces five league games over that period. At the same time, Arsenal plays just three, meaning - if all goes to plan - the Reds could build at least a 12-point lead in the title race.
That is easier said than done of course. The run-in is not easy by any stretch of the imagination, with games against Everton, Wolves, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Newcastle to contend with.
Come out of the other side of those with their advantage extended into double figures, and one hand will surely be on the Premier League trophy. Slot’s critics won’t be able to argue then.
