Arne Slot believes he is being given a welcome selection headache by Liverpool’s progress in the League Cup. A much-changed Reds continued their defence of the trophy with a hard-earned 3-2 fourth-round win at Premier League rivals Brighton on Wednesday evening.
Luis Diaz’s strike five minutes from time ultimately proved decisive after Tariq Lamptey prompted a nervy finish by reducing the arrears in the 90th minute after Cody Gakpo had earlier scored twice before Simon Adingra netted.
It set up a return to the South Coast in mid-December with Liverpool drawn against Southampton in the quarter-finals.
Slot made eight changes at Brighton from the team that drew 2-2 at Arsenal on Sunday, with Vitezslav Jaros handed a full debut in goal and Tyler Morton making his first start of the season in midfield
And the Reds head coach said: “I am pleased with how we dealt with it. When you come here, you know it’ll be a difficult game because of their style of play and because of the recruitment they’ve had here over the last few years.
“To come away with a win was very pleasing for the long-term. I really liked what I saw from players who haven’t played that much this season yet, they were able to play in a similar style that we usually do and brought quality into the game.
That makes it even harder for me to make line-ups in the upcoming weeks.”
With Darwin Nunez benched and Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa injured, Slot opted to play without a recognised striker with Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones the more advanced in a box midfield.
“I think they did well,” Slot added. “If you play those two without a nine you are always a bit worried that you have enough runs in behind the last line because these two like to play in midfield and make combinations there.
What they did really well was combining trying to become an extra player in the midfield but not forgetting the deep runs as well. It helped that Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo were a constant threat in behind also.
In general, I liked what I saw. I prefer to play with a number nine, but if they are not available – we had Darwin available but I don’t think it was good for him to start after playing three games and the upcoming schedule – this was the result of what we tried to come up with. The players did really well in my opinion.”
The win came in the first part of a double-header, with Liverpool entertaining Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Reds remain unbeaten in seven away games this season, and have won 12 of 14 in all competitions under Slot.
And explaining his team’s impressive record on the road, the head coach said: “It’s a bit of everything. In some situations the fixture list, in some situations it’s just the quality of the players we can put on the teamsheet and our playing style helps us. It’s only been 14 games but it has been a very good start away from home and also at home.
We need good form on Saturday as well because we came here knowing Brighton are a good team and they showed that. We need to be on top of our game for Saturday again.”
