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Arne Slot explains his team selection to Sky Sports by coming at the subject from a few different angles at the same time. “People who follow this club know we use this competition for younger players … we want to create a pathway for them … to play in front of 60,000 people … in front of our own fans … that’s one reason … the other is that we only have four or five injuries but if I have to play again the same players … there are multiple reasons why we have lost so many games … no excuses to lose so many but it hasn’t been helpful that almost every time we have only two days in between … and after we have had to play away … and then again an away game … so we keep playing the same players … like for example I tried with Alexander Isak, players who missed out on pre-season … it is a big risk of another injury … and we only have at this moment in time 15, 16 senior players available.”
It’s fair to say Liverpool have filed an experimental teamsheet, with the vast bulk of the regulars given the night off. Milos Kerkez, desperate to play himself into some form, is the only player to retain his starting spot after the 3-2 defeat at Brentford last weekend. Third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman and 18-year-old Northern Ireland winger Kieran Morrison make their club debuts, while the starting XI also includes 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha and 18-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni. Nobody on their bench is over 21; Kaide Gordon is the most experienced sub with nine senior appearances on his resumé.
