"It’s a really surprising thing" - Jamie Redknapp names 'mistake' made by Liverpool boss Arne Slot after the Reds' exit from EFL Cup

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp has questioned Liverpool manager Arne Slot for his mistake in the Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace. He believes that the manager picked the wrong starting XI, and should have played to his strengths.

Speaking on Sky Sports before the match, Redknapp questioned the decision but backed the manager, believing the Dutchman was managing the fitness of his star players. He said (via Metro):

"It’s a surprise but I guess he’s the only man who knows when he watches the training. He sees who is right – people like Virgil van Dijk, what is their fitness and confidence. Ekitike, I thought he might start today – it’s a really surprising thing what he’s done tonight. I thought he would have gone a lot stronger than that to be honest."

However, after the match, he slammed Slot for picking the wrong side and making it harder for the young players who took the pitch against Crystal Palace. He said:

"It was the wrong team, make no mistake. You’ve not made it easy for the young players because of the team and players around them. You can’t tell me that he’s picked that team today and those subs thinking ‘that will get me a result against a really good Crystal Palace side’." "You might hope they can but I didn’t believe for one second that they could beat them. He’s made a mistake today but he’s been unbelievable since he’s come to the club, this is real pressure for everyone concerned but that’s football."

Arne Slot picked a weakened squad for the Carabao Cup clash, with just Alexis Mac Allister, Milos Kerkez, and Andy Robertson as the players who have played regularly for the Liverpool first team this season.

Wataru Endo, Joe Gomez, and Federico Chiesa were the other senior players starting the game, while the bench was filled with academy stars.

Arne Slot not expecting big chances at Liverpool after defeat

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has admitted that there will be no big changes at the club despite losing six of the last seven matches. The Reds face Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Manchester City in the next 11 days, and the Dutchman said:

"I don’t think it has changed much after this loss, but if it did then maybe the most positive thing about tonight was the position we were in, 2-0 down and we weren’t really pushing for a goal because we weren’t able to, the fans were behind the team and supporting us."

Liverpool have slipped from first to seventh in the last four game weeks, having lost all the matches.

Edited by Sripad