Arne Slot’s team selection “backfired spectacularly” – “These defeats are on him”

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There was sympathy for Liverpool’s youngsters and further criticism of Arne Slot after the 3-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace, on another miserable night for the Reds. Slot’s torrid October ended with yet another loss on Wednesday night, with a young Liverpool side dumped out of the Carabao Cup at the fourth round.

“But it won’t look like a smart decision if Liverpool don’t see the benefits across the next three – a huge week coming up.” Mike McGrath of the Telegraph said Slot’s gamble with his team didn’t pay off in the slightest: “Liverpool’s incredible slump goes on as Arne Slot’s team-selection gamble backfired spectacularly as the hosts were dumped out of the Carabao Cup at Anfield. “While some would view a home cup tie as the perfect opportunity to end a run of four domestic defeats on the spin, Slot instead put all his chips on this weekend’s Premier League fixture against Aston Villa. […] “This defeat will have done nothing to improve the confidence levels at Anfield at the moment.” Harry Bamforth of the Mail believes the pressure is now genuinely growing on Slot: “Don’t come at me yet, Liverpool fans.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think Arne Slot has excelled here, highlighted tonight.” Gregg Evans of The Athletic focused on the importance of Saturday’s visit of Aston Villa: “We will only really know the answer to that question at around 10pm UK time on Saturday. “One of Slot’s sayings is that ‘nothing good comes from a defeat,’ but if the players who sat out this game return fit and in fine form to tackle in-form Villa, this defeat will be quickly forgotten. […] “This season was never going to be defined by their Carabao Cup campaign, but the Anfield crowd will not be as forgiving if things do not go their way again at the weekend.” Finally, the Mirror‘s Tom Victor highlighted Liverpool’s woeful run of domestic results: “You have to go all the way back to 1953 to find the last time Liverpool lost five straight games in domestic competitions.