Arne Slot confirms 5 Liverpool stars won't play in next game including Mohamed Salah

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Arne Slot has revealed the five Liverpool players who played 270 minutes over the last week will be rested for the midweek Carabao Cup clash against Southampton.

The Reds returned from the recent September international break with a packed schedule that contained three fixtures in seven days.

Liverpool emerged with victories from all three matches against Burnley, Atletico Madrid, and Everton, although Slot said a sluggish second half against the latter was a consequence of the intense period.

The Dutchman made four changes for the Merseyside derby, and squad management is clearly at the forefront of his mind.

But the good thing is that I have the options to rotate throughout the week.

“The ones that played three times 90 [minutes] are Virgil, Ibou, Mo, Ryan and Dom – the ones that are used to this intensity and this level.

First-half goals from Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike secured all three points at Anfield and ensured Idrissa Gueye’s second-half strike proved irrelevant.

But given Liverpool’s schedule and levels of fatigue, Slot said it took another resolute finish from Liverpool to take three points in the derby.

“We needed mentality today in a different fashion maybe than the few times before

Ryan Gravenberch was on target for Liverpool in the 2-1 win over Everton

“But if you played your third game in less than seven days, against your rivals, then you know that the second half could be very tough – and that's why I made my line-ups throughout the week as I did, for the players to be ready for this one because this was the most intense from the three, we knew this before.

“You could see how well we can play if we are fresh – the first 45 minutes, unbelievable, the way we played.

“But the second half was more difficult because of Everton, of course, but also because we ran a bit out of energy