Liverpool manager Arne Slot has admitted that his squad depth is not as extensive as many believe following his team’s 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup fourth round at Anfield.
Speaking after the match, the Dutchman reflected on the club’s long-standing approach to the competition, which prioritizes giving opportunities to young academy players. “Our squad is probably not as big as people think it is,” Slot said. “This club has always chosen in the League Cup to give playing time to young academy players and there has not been a change in the way we look at this.”
Liverpool fielded a youthful side against Oliver Glasner’s Palace, with several first-team regulars rested ahead of a busy Premier League and Europa League schedule. The decision, however, proved costly as the Reds were comfortably beaten at home.
Slot highlighted the difference in squad depth between Liverpool and some of their domestic rivals. “I saw Manchester City’s starting eleven and they didn’t have one starter from the weekend, but it felt like their best team,” he noted. “Or Chelsea can bring Estevão in…”
