I love a brave manager proper big-club energy rotating the deck when everyone else is screaming “play the stars!” Arne Slot did exactly that: ten changes, a bench full of kids, and a statement that Liverpool won’t burn out chasing a fourth-round cup.
But football is a ruthless teacher. Palace smelled the opportunity and won every duel, slicing through a disjointed Reds shape for a ruthless 3 – 0 at Anfield. Wow. Not the good kind.
Here’s the nuance the hot-takes miss: with three games in seven days and injuries stacking up, Slot tried to protect legs for Villa and Europe. It’s classic Liverpool DNA to blood academy talent early in the League Cup.
The problem? Execution. The press lacked cohesion, rest defense was loose, and transitions were a mess Palace punished all three. When your structure wobbles, rotation turns from strategy into spotlight.
Credit to Slot for fronting up: no excuses, pressure accepted.
This is a storm, not a legacy. Fix the spacing between lines, restore the counter-press triggers, and the football will look like Liverpool again. Until then, Palace own the receipt.
