Arne Slot Leaves 12 Liverpool Pillar Players In The Match Against PSV

Liverpool came down with a second-tier team against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League match. (X/@LFC)

JAKARTA - Liverpool appeared with a reserve team against PSV Eindhoven in the last match of the Champions League elimination. In a duel at PSV's home at Philips Stadium, Thursday, January 30, 2025 in the morning WB, manager Arne Slot left 12 pillar players, including Mohamed Salah.

Liverpool, who are at the top of the Champions League standings, will definitely qualify automatically for the last 16. A 2-1 win over Lille made Liverpool stronger at the top by pocketing the 21. Success made the Reds set a perfect record by winning seven matches in European competitions.

This made the last match when he visited PSV headquarters no longer decisive. Slot didn't even bring most of the pillar players to Eindhoven. At least 12 players have been the mainstay of the team left by Slot at Anfield.

Those who were not brought included goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota.

In contrast, Slot prepared Caoimhin Kelekera, Andrew Robertson, Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa They will start in that match.

"All the players who are not brought can actually still be played. But this is for long-term preparation. It's not a matter of short-term preparation or for Saturday's match [against Bournemouth in the English Premier League]," Slot said as quoted by Sport Mole.

"If you look at our trip this season, players need to rest for one week after playing many games for four or five weeks. If they are resting, they will return to fitness," he said.

Slot prepares the players for a crucial match against Tottenham Hotspur in the second semifinal of the Carabao Cup. In the first match, Liverpool lost 1-0 so they had to be able to catch a goal deficit at Anfield.

"I did need time to understand the new format of the Champions League. Now, I believe I 100% don't mind the ball ending by winning or being in second place we will face a team that is ranked 14, 15, 16, or 17 [in the last 16]," said the former Feyenoord coach.

Even though he was not concerned with the final result, Slot promised Liverpool to keep fighting. He still targets victory in that match.

"We still don't want to lose. We want to do everything we can because we can win the game," Slot said again.