Arne Slot Manager
Liverpool’s pursuit of a £35 million deal for England international Marc Guehi fell through on transfer deadline day, leaving the club to reassess its squad depth and injury management strategy. The recent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to Leoni during the Carabao Cup win over Southampton has prompted discussions within the club regarding their approach to potential injuries and squad size.
Arne Slot said: “That all depends on whether we get more injuries, yes or no, and if there’s a chance in the market – all the answers I always give. Also, if it is ever a situation where I lead a team that has four or five injuries throughout the whole season, it might be a bit smarter to go to 24/25, but recent history showed that [we have a good record] until now. We don’t have five or six injuries at the same time throughout the whole season, if that would be the situation then we would end up with 15/16 players and that would normally be difficult. So it’s a choice I like to make but I think it is also a financial choice that we as a club have to make. If we want to keep these top players, we cannot have 24/25 of them. It’s also a choice we make. But that’s the choice we make because I believe that every player needs to have perspective of development or playing time. If I have to disappoint four or five players, I believe that is not the right energy that you want to have in the building. On the other hand, that means if you get one injury, you don’t have two replacements anymore, so you don’t have two players for every position anymore. That’s then the risk you take but that’s also why we try to bring in versatile players like Florian Wirtz who can play left, can play as a 10, can play as an eight; Dominik Szoboszlai can play every position, I think. That is the way we do it and it is also why we can maybe spend a bit more on one player instead of bringing three in, and that is maybe the difference between the clubs.”
The Liverpool boss added: “I would like to say so but I think it takes a longer term to prove this [good injury record]. We, as with any other team in the league by the way, try to have a certain way of working where you prevent as many injuries as you can, but normally it is very difficult to prevent an ACL. But muscle injuries are maybe a bit better, there’s a better chance of preventing a muscle injury, unless you only have 14 players available and you have to overload them. If you look at Alexander Isak now, we are trying to make the best possible programme and also to stick to that programme. I might be tempted once in a while, maybe even tomorrow, to keep him on the pitch for 90 [minutes], but then I always try to look at the long term and not at the short term with these issues.”
Slot’s comments highlight Liverpool’s strategic approach to squad management, emphasizing the balance between maintaining a lean squad and ensuring player development and playing time. The club’s focus on versatile players like Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai allows them to cover multiple positions, reducing the need for a larger squad. This approach also enables the club to invest more in individual players rather than spreading resources thinly across multiple signings.
The strategy underscores Liverpool’s commitment to long-term planning, particularly in injury prevention and management. The club aims to minimize muscle injuries through tailored training programs while acknowledging the challenges in preventing more severe injuries like ACL tears. Slot’s remarks indicate a careful consideration of both financial and developmental aspects, ensuring that players have the opportunity to grow while maintaining a competitive edge on the field.
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