Arne Slot couldnât contain his laughter when asked the first question at his Friday morning press conference. The Liverpool manager was speaking to the media ahead of Sundayâs match against Manchester United at Anfield, a game between two fierce rivals in very different situations, with Gary Neville openly dreading the encounter.
Liverpool are currently six points clear at the top of the Premier League, with a game in hand over second-placed Arsenal. Meanwhile, Manchester United are struggling in 14th place, having lost five of their last league matches.
Slot Rejects Rotation Suggestion
One journalist asked Slot if he might rotate his squad on Sunday, considering Unitedâs recent difficulties and Liverpoolâs busy January schedule. The question caused an amused reaction from the Liverpool boss, who laughed and replied, âThatâs a strange question!â before regaining his composure and responding (via Liverpool FC on YouTube):
âNo, of course Iâm not planning to rest any player, because itâs a big game. I said it before the first match and Iâll say it again: they have much better players, in my opinion, than their league position suggests. It might take Ruben Amorim time to get the best out of them, but they are much, much better than their current position.â
Slotâs Reaction Speaks Volumes
The suggestion of resting key players for a Premier League match against Manchester United, especially at this point in the season, seemed absurd to Slot. Despite Liverpoolâs packed schedule and their strong position compared to United, no serious manager would think of fielding anything less than their strongest XI in such a high-stakes rivalry.
Liverpool have had a full week to prepare for their bitter rivals, ensuring the players are well-rested for the crucial match. Slot and his team know better than to underestimate United, who will surely arrive at Anfield determined to disrupt Liverpoolâs momentum.
The encounters from last season are a reminder of the risks of complacencyâdespite being outplayed at times, United managed two league draws and an FA Cup victory over Liverpool. Slot fully understands the intensity and unpredictability this historic rivalry brings.
Fans can be confident that Slot will select his best lineup on Sunday, aiming to strengthen Liverpoolâs title challenge while delivering another setback to Manchester Unitedâs already difficult season.
