Liverpool boss Arne Slot has shed light on his bold choice to start Tuesday night’s Champions League tie in Istanbul without star men Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak in his first XI.
Following the weekend setback against Crystal Palace, the Dutch coach made four changes to his side for the meeting with Galatasaray. Salah, Isak, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley all dropped to the bench, while Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitike, Curtis Jones, and Cody Gakpo were handed starting spots.
Slot confirmed that Frimpong would take up a role on the right wing instead of Salah, while Dominik Szoboszlai was deployed at right-back. Explaining the move, he told Amazon Prime:
> “Jeremie isn’t playing as a full-back, he’s out wide. We’ve got so many matches ahead and another big one coming in just a few days. It’s important to use the whole squad. That doesn’t always mean starting—sometimes the bench can change the game.”
The Liverpool boss even reminded viewers of Salah’s hat-trick against Rangers when coming on as a substitute, highlighting the strength in depth he now has at his disposal.
As for Isak and Mac Allister, Slot admitted the club is still easing them back into full rhythm after disrupted pre-seasons.
> “It takes a bit of time. Alex and Alexander missed a lot of training, and Conor Bradley too. You can’t expect them to play 90 minutes every three days. That’s why we rotate—it’s not just necessity, it’s also because we trust the other players to step up.”
With fixture congestion and fitness concerns in mind, Slot’s selection signals his intent to keep Liverpool fresh and competitive across all fronts this season.
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