Jamie Redknapp has criticised Arne Slot’s decision to field a weakened side in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace, claiming the manager picked a team he knew was not good enough. Slot made ten changes from the weekend loss to Brentford, and the young team was beaten 3-2, with Ismaila Sarr scoring twice and Yeremy Pino also on target. Amara Nallo was sent off late on.
Redknapp, speaking after the match, said: “He (Slot) said, ‘That was a choice I made, that was the team I picked,’ but he picked the wrong team. Make no mistake about it.” The pundit added: “You can’t tell me he’s picked that team today and those subs, thinking, ‘That’ll get me a result against a really good Crystal Palace side.’ You might hope you can, but I did not think for one second they could beat them and he has made a mistake today.”
Redknapp also stated that Liverpool’s problems are not confined to one area: “It’s not just the defence, it’s not just the midfield, it’s everything right now. They have got to show some character.” He noted that with six defeats in the last seven matches, pressure is mounting on Slot, his staff and his players.
Slot defended his selection, citing injuries and the need to give young players experience, as well as upcoming fixtures against Aston Villa in the Premier League and Real Madrid in the Champions League. “I think people who know this club know that in this competition we use it for younger players,” he said. But Redknapp remains critical, saying: “He’s been unbelievable since he came to the club, but this is real pressure for everybody concerned.”
