The Reds coach opted to field a young team despite a poor run of recent results.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted it is “not Liverpool standard” to lose six games out of seven in all competitions after the Reds lost 3-0 to Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the EFL Cup.
Last season’s finalists, who are enduring a poor run of form, were comprehensively beaten at Anfield thanks to a first-half brace from Ismaila Sarr and a late goal from Yeremy Pino.
Palace’s victory is their third in a row over Liverpool this season, following victory in the Community Shield and Premier League in September.
Oliver Glasner’s team advances to the quarter-finals, where they will face Arsenal at the Emirates.
The pressure seems to be mounting on Slot and his team. Next week, Liverpool will face Aston Villa, Real Madrid and Manchester City in the space of eight days in what could be a decisive period for the reigning Premier League champions.
“It is not Liverpool’s standard to lose five out of six [games]“It is not Liverpool standard to lose six out of seven,” Slot told Sky Sports.
“So the pressure might go down a little bit, but not that much because it was already so high.”
Before kick-off, the Liverpool manager made it clear that he would use the competition to blood some of the club’s younger players.
And sure enough, despite the team’s poor run of results, Slot kept his word and made 10 changes from the team that lost to Brentford at the weekend.
Slot doubled down on his decision after the game, insisting that his team’s upcoming games have no added weight because he believes his team is expected to win every time they take the field.
And he added: “Everyone can have an opinion about the squad we are using, but we only have 15 or 16 first team players available.
“For Liverpool, every game is something to win.”
The Reds host Aston Villa on Saturday before hosting European giants Real Madrid at Anfield on Tuesday in a delightful Champions League encounter.
