Slot justifies League Cup lineup choice amid criticism for falling short of Liverpool expectations

Arne Slot, the Liverpool manager, stood by his choice to field a heavily rotated team following a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the League Cup on Wednesday, which prolonged the clubs poor streak.

The Premier League title holders have suffered defeats in six of their past seven outings across all tournaments, with four straight losses in the league.

Prior to the match, Slot outlined his focus by rotating 10 players, omitting key figures like Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah from the entire squad.

The inexperienced group was outclassed by Palace, marking the third victory for the Eagles over Liverpool this campaign.

Ismaila Sarr netted a brace during the opening 45 minutes, and Yeremy Pino sealed a third goal late in the game after Liverpool replacement Amara Nallo received a red card.

"Losing six from seven does not align with Liverpool norms," Slot remarked, citing an intense upcoming schedule as the reason for his lineup decisions.

Liverpool seek to halt their league slump when they face surging Aston Villa on Saturday.

Real Madrid will arrive at Anfield for Champions League action on Tuesday, followed by an away fixture against Manchester City on November 9.

"I could not place them, the main squad members, into such a demanding period.

"We played tonight, with just two days recovery before the following game, another two days rest, then Real Madrid, and a bit longer before Manchester City.

"Opinions may vary, yet given our available 15 or 16 senior players, this was my decision."

Palace, fresh from FA Cup success, eye further trophies, though they drew a tough quarter-final trip to Arsenal on the road.