Arne Slot has dismissed suggestions that Liverpool’s recent Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle was due to fatigue, asserting that the loss was “nothing to do with running.” Instead, he pointed to his team’s inability to win crucial duels as the main factor behind their performance.
Despite Slot’s comments, signs of fatigue on the pitch have become evident. In the past two weeks, Liverpool has recorded three of its lowest duel success rates of the season, notably achieving a mere 32.5 percent during their match against Paris Saint-Germain, the lowest in Champions League history for the club. In subsequent games against Newcastle and in the second leg at Anfield, their success rate improved slightly to 42.7 percent but still raised concerns.
Tracing back further into the Premier League season, Liverpool has seen a significant drop in duel success, with only two out of their last 11 matches resulting in over 50 percent wins in these crucial battles. Slot’s assertion downplaying fatigue may overlook the physical challenges that his players are consistently facing.
As acknowledged by pundit Jamie Carragher, Liverpool’s performance has suffered as “Liverpool’s legs have run out of steam.” Carragher highlighted that the team struggled with set pieces, duels in the midfield, and overall pace during the final match against Newcastle.
Fortunately for Slot, Liverpool’s league standing remains strong despite their recent fluctuations in performance. They uphold a 12-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, maintaining an unbeaten streak since their defeat to Nottingham Forest in September.
This commanding lead could mark a successful first season for Slot, who faced skepticism regarding Liverpool’s title aspirations back in August. However, if they aim to replicate this success in the following season and perform well in cup competitions, addressing their current dip in form is crucial.
Slot’s cautious approach to team rotation has allowed Liverpool to secure their leading position; however, it has also resulted in an increasing workload for key players, including Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, who have each exceeded 3,000 minutes played this season. Notably, Liverpool has the highest concentration of players logging significant minutes, with nine players ranking in the top 50 for total minutes played in this campaign.
While experienced players like Salah and Van Dijk are accustomed to intensive schedules, even they have shown signs of fatigue. Emerging players such as Ryan Gravenberch are also feeling the strain, having seen their playing time escalate rapidly compared to previous seasons.
This increasing reliance on a select group of players raises questions about the sustainability of their strategy. Liverpool’s average of just 1.76 lineup changes per game is the seventh lowest in the Premier League, contrasting sharply with the average of 2.79 changes per game for the past seven title-winning teams.
As the season progresses, the challenge for Slot will be to manage player fatigue and maintain the squad’s performance levels. The recent underperformance of substitutes has highlighted the disparity in experience between the starting lineup and the bench, putting pressure on the head coach to reconsider his approach.
Looking ahead, Slot aims to leverage the summer transfer window to reshape the squad, particularly as uncertainty looms over some key players’ futures, including Salah, Van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Ultimately, while Liverpool’s Premier League success appears within reach, the focus now turns to ensuring it can be sustained for the long term.
