Liverpool manager Arne Slot says he is not scared of making big changes to his squad ahead of their final UEFA Champions League league phase game at PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night, Afrosport reports.
The Reds have already automatically secured their place in the round of 16 thanks to their 100% record which sees them top the standings ahead of Barcelona.
This has prompted Slot to make wholesome changes to his squad for the trip to his home country as he has left out key players in Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz.
Slot insisted it was necessary to make these changes as they play High-flying Bournemouth in the Premier League this weekend before facing Tottenham Hotspur and Plymouth Argyle in the EFL Cup and FA Cup respectively followed by the Merseyside Derby with Everton.
“Does it scare me is the question if this happens? No, maybe both. I don’t know because I don’t think in football that you can think for the past few months it has been going very well,” he said.
“So then we are convinced that it will be going well in future as well. We cannot do so, especially because when you are involved in the team and I have said this also during my time at Feyenoord, it’s so difficult to become a champion and some people are watching from the outside say it has been easy.
“It doesn’t give us any more confidence. And I wouldn’t say that I’m scared neither because when you’re in this, this job and tomorrow we play PSV, then Bournemouth and then Tottenham, I don’t remember what will happen.
“A League Cup game and an FA Cup game after that another game during the week. So I am especially working on PSV and Bournemouth and this is exceptional because normally I would only work on PSV, but yes, I’m looking into the match against Bournemouth as well.”
Final stop of the #UCL league phase: Eindhoven ✈️@Expedia | #Ad pic.twitter.com/eFhImiioDc
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 28, 2025
The likes of Andy Robertson, Wataru Endo, Kostas Tsimikas, Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa, former PSV forward Cody Gakpo, Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah will make the trip to Eindhoven and will be charged with making sure Liverpool end the league phase with a perfect winning record.
