Liverpool coach Arne Slot has conceded that he may have erred in his selection for the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United, which resulted in a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Wembley Stadium.
In reflecting on the match, Slot noted that he made only two changes to his squad following Liverpool’s midweek loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, where the team was eliminated on penalties after a grueling 120 minutes of play.
Following the match, Slot admitted he should have adjusted his lineup more significantly. He expressed regret over not starting Wataru Endo in midfield, suggesting that greater rotation could have benefited the team. He stated:
“Maybe I made the wrong decision by not starting him; it’s better to say that! But we will never know. We did win against Newcastle at home with the players that started, and we outplayed them in the second half at Newcastle. So there was rationale behind the line-up.”
Despite the rationale, the defeat has led to scrutiny regarding Slot’s decision-making, particularly in terms of squad rotation. As he prepares for the upcoming match against Everton, he acknowledged that he might have relied too heavily on his initial choices.
Slot’s comments come amid increasing pressure from fans and analysts who feel that he should have utilized his full squad more effectively this season. The coach also emphasized the need to recognize Newcastle’s efforts, stating that the defeat was not merely due to a lack of work rate but also attributed to specific moments in the match, such as conceding a corner.
As Liverpool looks to rebound from this setback, Slot’s reflections on his tactical decisions will be crucial in determining the team’s strategy moving forward. He will need to find the right balance in his lineup to ensure better results in future matches.