In Liverpool’s recent 2-1 triumph over Lille, head coach Arne Slot provided insights into his substitution decisions. The Reds boss further explains the reason behind substituting Curtis Jones, who assisted Mohamed Salah’s opening goal.
As Jones was subbed in the halftime, Arne Slot explained, “There was a moment in the game where he felt something, he said he had to go off at half-time.” This move gave an opportunity for Mac Allister to step up on the pitch
Arne Slot commented on pre-planned changes for Gravenberch and Szoboszlai
Arne Slot also addressed the halftime substitutions of Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai. He revealed these changes were pre-planned to manage player workload, stating, “The idea was to take Dom and Ryan off at half-time.”
However, due to Jones’ injury, Szoboszlai remained on the pitch longer than initially intended. The subs matched the flow of the team leading to a 2-1 victory against the French side.
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Why Conor Bradley was substituted?
In the post-match interview, Arne Slot stated, that Conor Bradley, who started the match, was substituted late in the game as a precaution. Arne Slot noted the increasing difficulty for Bradley in terms of load and emphasized the importance of avoiding injuries, especially considering past experiences.
He stated, “You don’t want to take the risk of him getting injured in the last few minutes.” Hence he was swapped with Trent in the 86th minute which stunned the fans.
These strategic substitutions highlight Slot’s focus on player health and squad rotation as Liverpool progresses in the Champions League title.
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