Arne Slot has told Liverpool fans why he left star striker Alexander Isak on the bench for the Merseyside derby against Everton.
The first game between the two rivals this season took place on Saturday lunchtime, with the Reds looking to maintain their 100 per cent record this campaign and David Moyes bidding to win at Anfield for the first time ever as a manager.
Liverpool fans were left scratching their heads over who would be involved from the start from a pretty much fully-fit side, and not long after 11am they learned that more than £250million worth of talent would be on the bench.
That included Isak, who started for the first time against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League in midweek, as well as Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong.
Isak has been fighting to get up to full speed fitness-wise after going on strike when trying to force through a move to Liverpool from Newcastle in the summer, while Wirtz had started every game this season in the build-up to the game. Frimpong has also recently been injured, with Conor Bradley selected at right back instead.
Slot, meanwhile, speaking to TNT Sports, explained why he opted to bench both Isak and Wirtz, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Hugo Ekitike playing in their usual positions instead.
Arne Slot has explained why he opted not to play Alexander Isak from the off against Everton
Florian Wirtz was also benched, despite starting every game for the club so far this season
Slot said on Isak, who cost the club £125m in the summer: ‘It wasn’t only for today, it was during the week. Against Atletico you didn’t see Macca [Alexis Mac Allister] and Conor Bradley.
‘We knew from the start that three games in seven days, with the third one being the most intense, we need players who are ready fit enough for the intensity coming up and that is what we have tried to do for all the games.
‘Normally when you don’t pick play a player… I don’t think there is any player who would make the same decision, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he [Isak] said it is the best choice for him not to start.
‘It is all to do with match fitness and him missing out on team sessions and only one game.’
On Wirtz, meanwhile, who the Reds splashed out £116m on from Bayern Leverkusen, Slot added: ‘It was the same as Macca vs Atletico. Three games in seven days, not in eight which is normal.
‘Early kick off, one of the most intense games we have to play so we tried to manage it and for today I think Dominik Szoboszlai, who played both the games too, is more used to the intensity of the Premier League.’
Slot had been coy on weather Isak would start against Everton in his pre-match press conference after playing nearly an hour against Madrid.
The Dutchman said: ‘I don’t think I tell the media a lot the day before the game how we (are going to) start. We had recovery sessions yesterday and let’s see how they all feel. Alex did feel his body more than ever before after the 60 minutes he played.
Jeremie Frimpong also found himself back on the bench after starting against Atletico Madrid
‘Let’s see how he has recovered today. We’re going to think about the line-up more today. We gave them a little bit of extra time to recover and one of the best ways to recover is sleep, as we all know. We had to play this week three times.’
Wirtz, meanwhile, has struggled for form since joining the Reds and is yet to pick up a goal or assist in his six games.
He has spoken about taking time to adapt to the league following his move from the Bundesliga, but lost his place for the derby.
Analysing the decision to leave Wirtz out for the first time this season, former Liverpool man Peter Crouch said: ‘It is difficult to adjust to coming to a different league, it is a difficult game. Arne Slot may have been going for a bit more steel – I totally get the decision.’
Frimpong, meanwhile, missed his side’s wins over Newcastle and Arsenal due to an injury he picked up early in the season, having scored on his debut.
After coming off the bench against Burnley, he managed nearly an hour after starting the win over Atletico Madrid, but found himself back on the bench against Saturday.
Bradley instead started the game, with Szoboszlai deputising in the position when Frimpong was out.
