Liverpool head coach Arne Slot praised the squad players after their 2-3 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday. The Reds defeated the Seagulls in the Carabao Cup fourth-round fixture at the American Express Stadium to reach the Quarter-finals.
Slot used the rotation policy, allowing squad players who have struggled to receive game time, a chance to prove themselves. Vitezslav Jaros earned his full debut while Tyler Morton, Jarell Quansah, Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo earned significant playing time. Trey Nyoni earned a chance to show a glimpse of his incredible quality as he came on as a substitute.
Speaking to the media (via the Guardian), Slot praised the Liverpool squad players for taking their chances and giving him a good selection headache. He said:
“I really liked what I saw for players who haven’t played much this season. They were able to play a similar style and brought quality into the game. So that makes it even harder for me to select lineups for the upcoming weeks.”
The Reds’ narrow victory involved a critical goal-conceding second-half mistake from Quansah who has struggled under the new head coach. Liverpool conceded the second goal after a big deflection from the 21-year-old put the ball out of the goalkeeper’s reach. Nevertheless, Quansah delivered a strong performance before his first goal error and should put the misfortune behind him very soon.
Meanwhile, Gomez enjoyed a more comfortable evening as Quansah’s partner, never putting a foot wrong as Virgil van Dijk’s replacement. Morton proved to Slot that he was more than just a backup, displaying his spatial awareness and impressive technical qualities.
On the other hand, Endo struggled to play in Slot’s system but the Japan has rustiness as a mitigating factor. The Liverpool fans adore Endo but they realize that the profile required for a defensive midfielder has drastically shifted.
Nyoni displayed glimpses of his agility and passing abilities in the cameo performance and showed confidence with a wayward shot. The 17-year-old academy player has an incredible future at the club and it is evident that Slot rates him highly.
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Meanwhile, Jaros proved that he is capable of competing with Alisson Becker and Caoimhin Kelleher as a strong goalkeeping option. The Czech international made an incredible diving save in the 49th minute of the game to keep Liverpool’s lead intact.
