Arne Slot admitted he didn’t want to substitute Diogo Jota or Trent Alexander-Arnold during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at Aston Villa. Both players were replaced in the 2nd half due to fitness concerns.
Arne slot revealed ( via TNT Sports) that Jota and Alexander-Arnold could only manage 60 minutes after recent injury struggles. Darwin Nunez and Conor Bradley came on, but neither made the desired impact.
“Unfortunately for four or five months, Jota hasn’t been available, almost hasn’t been available today. He could also only play 60, same with Trent,” Slot explained.
Nunez missed clear chances, while Bradley suffered another injury. Slot emphasized the need to protect players amid a congested fixture schedule. He continued,
“That’s why we had to make those substitutions because I would have loved to keep them in the team. But, like I said, we have to play Sunday again, Wednesday again.
“The amount of games that are coming up, you saw with Conor, the risk that sometimes you get with injuries. We have to take care of them.
“Jota played a very good game, and Trent as well.”
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Injury of Trent and Jota concerns Liverpool
Liverpool made just one change from their weekend win over Wolves, with Curtis Jones replacing Luis Diaz. The Reds struggled to find rhythm early. Poor defending and missed chances haunted them throughout the match.
Liverpool’s poor finishing and set-piece defending proved costly despite Alexander-Arnold’s equalizer.
Jota hit the crossbar but failed to register a shot on target. Nunez also squandered opportunities to put Liverpool ahead.
Slot praised Jota and Alexander-Arnold for their performances but acknowledged the risks of overplaying them. The draw leaves Liverpool with more dropped points as they struggle to maintain consistency.
Alexander-Arnold’s goal injected energy, but Liverpool couldn’t capitalize. Nunez’s struggles in front of goal continued, raising questions about his composure. Bradley’s injury further compounded Liverpool’s problems, leaving Slot with fewer options.
According to Slot, managing player fitness is crucial. He highlighted the challenges of balancing performance and recovery. Liverpool’s inability to finish chances remains a recurring issue this season.
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