Liverpool have already secured their place in the Champions League knockout stages, prompting manager Arne Slot to rest several senior players for their upcoming clash against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night.

Slot Defends Squad Rotation Ahead of PSV Clash

Arne Slot has dismissed the notion that his second-string squad must prove themselves in their Champions League outing against PSV Eindhoven. With Liverpool already assured of a top-two finish in their group, the manager opted to leave 12 key players behind as a youthful 21-man squad traveled to the Netherlands for their final group-stage match.

Liverpool’s place in the round of 16 is confirmed, and a draw against PSV would secure the top spot ahead of Barcelona. Consequently, first-team regulars such as Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Luis Diaz, and Mohamed Salah have all been given a rest. Joe Gomez, who recently returned to training following a month-long absence, was not considered, while Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones remain unavailable due to injury.

Opportunity for Young Players to Shine

With several stars missing, the likes of Caoimhin Kelleher, Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, Tyler Morton, Wataru Endo, and Harvey Elliott are expected to feature. Additionally, forward Federico Chiesa is set to make his first start since September. However, Slot insists that the match is not a test for the younger players but rather a strategic move to manage the workload of his regular starters.

“The players don’t need to prove themselves,” said Slot. “We are aware of their abilities, but we have an incredibly busy schedule, and those who stayed behind could have played. However, we must think long-term. Throughout the season, we’ve ensured that key players get a break every few weeks, especially during League Cup or FA Cup games, to maintain their freshness.”

Slot on Champions League Format and Liverpool’s Approach

Slot also weighed in on the revamped Champions League format, emphasizing that Liverpool’s final group-stage position has little bearing on their knockout stage fate. While PSV still needs to secure their play-off spot, Liverpool’s standing in the competition remains unaffected.

“I took some time to understand this new Champions League format, but I’m now completely sure that finishing first or second doesn’t really matter,” Slot explained. “We’re guaranteed to face one of the teams ranked 15th to 18th in the round of 16, and from there, it all depends on the draw. We can’t drop to third place, so the league standings won’t change. That said, we will be going out to win because, as a wise man once told me, nothing good ever comes from losing a game.”

Liverpool manager Arne Slot chose not to dwell on the referee’s decision to issue only a yellow card to Ipswich Town’s Julio Enciso for a dangerous tackle on Wataru Endo during the Reds’ commanding 4-1 win at Anfield.

Cody Gakpo struck twice, adding to goals from Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai, as Liverpool secured another dominant performance. However, their clean sheet was spoiled by Jacob Greaves, who scored a late header for Ipswich.

The match’s most contentious moment came in the second half when substitute Enciso launched into a reckless challenge on Endo, the Japan international. Despite the severity of the tackle, referee Michael Salisbury opted for a yellow card rather than a red, a decision that left many questioning its fairness.

Speaking after the game, Slot admitted he hadn’t reviewed the incident but refrained from criticizing the referee. Instead, he focused on Endo’s incredible toughness and ability to carry on without complaint.

“When it happened, I thought: ‘That doesn’t look good,’” Slot said. “The way the players reacted around him showed me it might be serious, but I waited to see how Wata responded. During the game, he shook it off, nodded a couple of times, and kept going. His mentality is unbelievable, and he was fine.”

Slot continued, “It was only a yellow card, so I assume my initial fear wasn’t realistic. Referees are instructed to make the right call, regardless of the game situation, so I trust it was the correct decision. I haven’t reviewed it yet, but I’ll assume the official got it right.”

Reflecting on the overall performance, Slot praised his team’s strong start, which set the tone for the match.

“Scoring early made all the difference,” he said. “In past home games, we’ve sometimes conceded early, but today we were aggressive and dominant right from the beginning. For most of the game, Ipswich barely got into our half.”

Slot also commended Liverpool’s ability to control Ipswich’s counterattacking threats. “With their wingers and Delap up front, they can be dangerous on the break, but we managed to neutralize that through our hard work. It was nearly a perfect performance for 85 minutes,” he said.

However, Slot acknowledged disappointment at conceding a goal from a corner, their first of the season. “It’s frustrating to lose the clean sheet like that, but overall, the way we handled a team sitting in a deep block for most of the game was excellent,” he concluded.

In the summer of 2023, Liverpool underwent a significant overhaul of their midfield, spending around £150m to bring in Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wataru Endo. This transformative period followed a disappointing campaign where Jurgen Klopp’s side fell short of Champions League qualification for the first time in eight years.

As the dust settled on a chaotic 4-4 draw with Southampton on the final day of the season, Klopp wasted no time signaling the need for a squad rebuild. Speaking shortly after the game, Klopp acknowledged the necessity of a “busy summer” to address glaring weaknesses in his team, particularly in midfield.

A Midfield in Decline
Liverpool’s midfield had become a major concern, with injuries and aging players slowing the team’s once-famous intensity. Long-standing stalwarts like Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keïta all departed that summer, leaving significant gaps to fill. The need for fresh talent was clear, and the club cast a wide net in search of reinforcements.

Liverpool explored deals for players like Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, Matheus Nunes, Khephren Thuram, and Manu Koné. However, negotiations with Southampton for Romeo Lavia and Brighton for Moisés Caicedo fell through, forcing the club to adapt its approach.

The Arrival of Alexis Mac Allister
The first domino to fall was Alexis Mac Allister. Signed for a modest £35m due to a release clause in his Brighton contract, the World Cup winner was officially unveiled on June 8. Liverpool’s recruitment team had been tracking the Argentine midfielder even before his breakout performances in Qatar, where he helped guide Argentina to glory.

Despite some initial doubts about his readiness for elite-level football, Mac Allister’s performances at Brighton—where he played a pivotal role in securing a top-six Premier League finish—cemented his place on Liverpool’s radar. The club’s long-standing relationship with his agent, Juan Gemili, dating back to the signing of Philippe Coutinho in 2013, smoothed negotiations.

Mac Allister’s versatility and experience—he had amassed nearly 160 career appearances by the summer of 2023—made him a perfect fit for Liverpool’s system. His signing was hailed as a bargain compared to his Argentina teammate Enzo Fernández, who had joined Chelsea for £105m just months earlier.

Dominik Szoboszlai: A Last-Minute Coup
While Mac Allister’s move had been months in the making, the acquisition of Dominik Szoboszlai was more opportunistic. The Hungarian midfielder had a £60m release clause in his RB Leipzig contract that was set to expire on June 30, leaving Liverpool with a narrow window to act.

Initially, Liverpool had considered signing Mason Mount, but Chelsea’s £60m valuation proved prohibitive. Szoboszlai, with his age, versatility, and potential, emerged as a more attractive option. Klopp received glowing endorsements about Szoboszlai’s character and talent, including input from Erling Haaland, a close friend of the player.

After swift negotiations with Szoboszlai’s representatives, Liverpool triggered the release clause just before the deadline, securing his services. The midfielder arrived in Merseyside ready to embrace his new club, even learning the words to “You’ll Never Walk Alone” during his flight to Liverpool.

The Final Pieces: Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo
With the additions of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, Liverpool turned their attention to completing their midfield rebuild. Ryan Gravenberch, a highly-rated young midfielder from Bayern Munich, was brought in to add depth and potential for the future. Meanwhile, the experienced Wataru Endo arrived to provide leadership and defensive stability in the middle of the park.

Reflecting on the Summer
Liverpool’s summer rebuild marked a turning point, addressing the issues that had plagued the team during the 2022/23 season. While some questioned the high price tags—Jörg Schmadtke, Liverpool’s short-term sporting director, initially felt £60m for Szoboszlai was excessive—those doubts quickly faded as the new signings made an immediate impact.

By the end of the transfer window, Liverpool had successfully revitalized their midfield, blending youthful promise with seasoned quality. The £150m overhaul not only strengthened the squad but also reignited hopes of a return to the top of English and European football.