'You need more...' Liverpool's manager Arne Slot voices his stern opinion on the inclusion of more players in the team list

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has asserted that clubs must be permitted to select larger matchday squads in England. With Trent Alexander-Arnold as the only player unavailable for Liverpool's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Tottenham on Thursday, Slot will inevitably have to exclude some senior players from his squad.

Luck can influence the fitness and availability of a squad, but often there are more fundamental factors at play. For instance, this time last year, Liverpool faced the challenge of being without seven of their most experienced players, yet they successfully clinched the League Cup final with a bunch of youngsters.

Arne Slot has a valid Point 

Slot raised a valid point regarding the limitation on English clubs, which are only allowed to name 20 players in their matchday squad. In contrast, many other European clubs, including those in the Netherlands, where Slot is from, can select up to 23 players. 

Liverpool has played one more game in all competitions this season than they had at this point last year, with a total of 36 compared to 35. Slot has faced the challenge of not being able to rotate his squad effectively for significant Champions League matches.

Liverpool has been plagued by a fair share of injuries. Players like Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Ibrahima Konate, Kostas Tsimikas, Connor Bradley, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Chiesa, and Diogo Jota have all faced time on the sidelines. However, it's important to note that these injuries haven't all occurred at once; thus, the club didn't face harsh consequences.

One of the key reasons for Slot's appointment at Liverpool was his impressive track record of minimising player injuries during his time at AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord. However, the Dutch gaffer hasn't been able to manage injuries as well as he would have liked at Anfield.

"That is one of the only things I don't understand here in England. Everywhere around the world, and in Europe as well, when we play Champions League, we can take 23 players to the game and we are here in a country where we play the most games," Slot said.

"So, it's not for that game, because nine substitutes are more than enough, but to keep the dressing room going because you need more than 20 players in this country because we play so many games," he added.