Arne Slot Faces 3 New Liverpool Selection Dilemmas as 5 Players Struggle in Cup Double Header

Arne Slot will surely be pleased with his first experience in the FA Cup, especially after avoiding what could have been a historic giant killing. Liverpool manager’s main focus heading into the weekend was securing the win, and emerging with a convincing 4-0 scoreline was an added bonus. Beyond the result, avoiding injuries—especially after their midweek Carabao Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspur—was another victory.

It’s worth noting that Andy Robertson hasn’t played since the draw with Manchester United, while Dominik Szoboszlai, though affected by illness, played 45 minutes, Luis Diaz saw just half an hour, and Alexis Mac Allister managed 80 minutes. These brief rests could prove crucial as Liverpool faces tough Premier League fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Brentford. In the absence of his regular starters, Slot turned to some of the squad’s fringe players, with mixed results.

For instance, Caoimhin Kelleher‘s appearance against Accrington was unlikely to reveal anything new, given the goalkeeper’s established reliability over 13 appearances this season. Conor Bradley similarly had little to prove, though his increased playing time will be useful for the busy weeks ahead.

On the left, Kostas Tsimikas, filling in for Robertson, didn’t do enough to challenge the Scotland international for the starting spot, offering two solid but unremarkable performances. This could highlight the potential need for further strengthening in that position during the summer.

In defense, Jarrell Quansah’s 120 minutes without major errors were a bonus as he aims to impress Slot. However, Wataru Endo overshadowed him at center-back, delivering strong performances against both Tottenham and Accrington. His tidy passing and excellent positional awareness may provide Slot with food for thought when considering his defensive options.

In midfield, Tyler Morton started against Accrington but didn’t do enough to change Slot‘s assessment of the 22-year-old. On the other hand, Szoboszlai’s quality was evident in his first-half performance in the FA Cup. With Curtis Jones’ recent struggles, Szoboszlai’s contribution served as a reminder of the quality Liverpool has in their No. 8. It was clear that Liverpool‘s attack functioned better with Szoboszlai on the pitch, as evidenced by their impressive performance in Tottenham’s 6-0 defeat compared to their blank showing without him.

Harvey Elliott was another player fans were eager to see, but his lack of minutes in the Carabao Cup raised some eyebrows. While his passing and ball retention against Accrington were solid, his performance didn’t stand out amid rumors of a potential January exit.

In attack, Darwin Núñez failed to score despite five shots, two big chances, and an expected goal tally of 0.81, which is concerning against a team languishing in 19th place in League Two. Though he created opportunities, Núñez’s ongoing inability to convert is becoming a growing issue. His struggles were highlighted by the impressive cameo from Jayden Danns, who scored a goal after linking well with teammates. Danns‘s performance may push Núñez for more competition in the forward line.

On a positive note, Federico Chiesa showed signs of his former self from his Juventus days, displaying an eagerness to score his first goal for Liverpool and build fitness. His 90-minute effort was capped with a goal in the 4-0 win, and Slot cautioned against getting too carried away with the performance. Nonetheless, it likely indicated that Chiesa is ready to contribute when called upon in more significant fixtures.

Rio Ngumoha, at just 16 years old, made his Liverpool debut and impressed Slot despite his raw and unpolished display. There is significant room for improvement, but the youngest-ever player to feature for Liverpool certainly showed promise.

This eight-day stretch has provided valuable insights for both Liverpool and Arne Slot, and the ripple effects of these performances are sure to be felt throughout the remainder of the campaign.