Arne Slot's biggest mistake against Crystal Palace wasn't the starting XI, it was something far worse - opinion

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from The Boot Room or go back to LFC Live.

Arne Slot was the architect of his own downfall as Liverpool lost to Crystal Palace and crashed out of the EFL Cup.Liverpool fans blamed Slot for the defeat, with the main topic of conversation being his choice of starting XI.Slot fielded a team of youngsters against Palace and was punished. Oliver Glasner, as he usually does against Liverpool, swept them aside.But while the starting XI was questionable, there was something far worse from the Dutchman.Arne Slot’s biggest mistake against Crystal PalaceGranted, in the cup, it’s usually a time to utilise youngsters, as Slot noted in his pre-match interview.He told Sky Sports: “I think people who know this club and have followed this club for many years know that in this competition we use it for younger players.“We want to help create a pathway for them to play in front of 60,000 people, in front of our own fans.

But what you then have to do is make sure you have competent replacements should the game turn against you, which unfortunately for Liverpool, it did.Slot, instead, filled his Liverpool bench with a sea of academy talent. Upon finding himself 2-0 down at half-time, he had no one to turn to to pull his side together.Liverpool were crying out for a Virgil van Dijk, a Mohamed Salah, or even a Dominik Szoboszlai to rally the troops – instead, they had a bench of, well… kids.Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty ImagesWhat did Arne Slot’s bench look like against Crystal Palace?The proof is in the pudding.

Even some die-hard Liverpool fans would have struggled to put a face to many of the players on that bench.Amara NalloWellity LuckyKaide GordonTrent Kone-DohertyArmin PecsiCarter PinningtonMichael LaffeyTommy PilingKeyrol FigueroaThe manager needs to take full blame for this defeat – and more importantly, bounce back fast. It isn’t out of the realm of possibility that calls for Slot’s sacking are on the horizon.Liverpool take on Aston Villa in the Premier League this Saturday – will it be a third straight loss on the bounce once again?