Stan Collymore has sounded a warning to Arne Slot forward of a busy fixture schedule for Liverpool coming into the festive interval.
The Reds have a four-point lead on the prime of the Premier League with a sport in hand on second-placed Chelsea, and their win over Girona on Tuesday leaves all of them however mathematically sure of an computerized final 16 berth within the Champions League.
Nonetheless, with 5 matches to play within the house of 15 days earlier than the top of December, the crunch video games hold coming thick and quick for the Merseysiders, who’re having to cope with a number of harm considerations as it’s.
Collymore urges Slot to rotate successfully
In his newest column for CaughtOffside, Collymore has warned that Liverpool will endure a hunch in outcomes sooner or later within the seasaon, and he’s urged Slot to handle gamers’ workload fastidiously to be able to navigate a busy run of fixtures.
The previous Reds striker wrote: “I feel that for Liverpool now, it’s a case of managing expectations. All people thinks they’re going to stroll the Premier League they usually’re probably one of many favourites to win the Champions League.
“However each crew has a down spell throughout a season, so though they got here away with one other superb, strong efficiency [v Girona] and acquired the factors to prime the desk, Arne Slot wants to start out managing minutes with a busy winter interval forward.”
Slot’s scope for rotation lessened by accidents
We don’t doubt that, while he’s had a largely settled most well-liked beginning XI, Slot would relish the luxurious of rotating his squad as a lot as attainable over the following 5 video games, however accidents to essential gamers will hinder his capability to take action.
The Carabao Cup quarter-final in opposition to struggling Southampton subsequent week no less than offers a viable likelihood for the likes of Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo and Jarell Quansah to come back in for uncommon begins, though the accidents to Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate and Kostas Tsimikas reduce the scope for rotation in defence.
That’d additionally seem like the perfect sport for Federico Chiesa to get a long-overdue runout, however sadly the Italian has nonetheless to totally shake off the issues which have sidelined him for the reason that finish of September.
For now, Slot does have good depth in midfield and assault, the place gamers comparable to Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo can come into the beginning XI with out weakening it, and Alexis Mac Allister’s suspension in opposition to Fulham will be certain that he’s recent for when he returns later within the month.
Collymore is correct to advise Slot to handle his squad successfully in order that key figures aren’t operating on empty going into the New 12 months, though the Liverpool boss may’ve wished for a bit extra wiggle room in sure positions.
Nonetheless, his aspect have risen to nearly each problem they’ve confronted to this point this season, even when it hasn’t been simple a lot of the time. The subsequent few weeks will see the Dutchman rely not simply on his common beginning XI, however all those that extra ceaselessly occupy the substitutes’ bench.
