Arne Slot’s first season at Liverpool has been a near-perfect opening chapter, a Premier League title and a team that looked relentless.
But one tactical gamble backfired spectacularly on Wednesday as a heavily rotated Liverpool XI unravelled at Anfield, crashing out 3-0 to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup and leaving fans asking whether Slot’s resting of stars was brave management or costly miscalculation.
A gamble that blew up
Slot made wholesale changes, handing starts to youngsters and fringe players while resting names who have carried Liverpool this season.
The decision, intended to protect key men ahead of a brutal run of fixtures, instead delivered a chastening result: Ismaila Sarr’s brace before half-time and a late Yeremy Pino finish handed Palace a clinical victory.
An early second-half red card for Liverpool youngster Amara Nallo extinguished any hopes of a comeback and amplified the damage
Pressure cooker schedule meets delicate squad balance
Slot defended his selection, pointing to fixture congestion and injuries as reasons for the overhaul.
With Aston Villa, Real Madrid and Manchester City looming, the manager argued the League Cup has long been used to blood academy players, and that resting tired legs was the pragmatic choice.
He insisted the squad isn’t as deep as outsiders assume and that the changes reflected necessity rather than disrespect for the competition.
Critics smell excuses and missed summer reinforcement
Not everyone bought the logic. Former players and pundits accused Slot of deflecting responsibility and exposing a squad still short on depth despite a summer of heavy spending. Critics argued the Reds prioritised marquee signings over a bulkier bench, and that resting too many senior players at a time when results are already slipping was reckless.
Palace response and the quality still in Liverpool’s ranks
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner dismissed suggestions Liverpool fielded a weak side, praising the quality and international pedigree within the visiting XI.
From a tactical point of view, Palace deserved credit for exploiting space and finishing chances, and their victory underlined that even rotated line-ups at elite clubs can carry serious quality — and equally serious consequences if cohesion is missing.
The verdict and what comes next
This loss will be shrugged off if Liverpool can arrest their slide with good results against Villa and Real Madrid.
If not, Wednesday’s defeat will be seen as a turning point, proof that rotation without sufficient cover leaves even champions vulnerable. Slot knows the margin for error is tiny; the next two weeks will determine whether this gamble was a masterstroke in load management or the moment a title-winning team began to fray.
