Arne Slot Stands Firm on Liverpool's Playing Style and Squad Selection Despite Losing Streak

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has reaffirmed his commitment to the team's playing style and squad selection, despite a challenging run of form that has seen them lose six of their last seven matches across all competitions.

The Reds' latest setback came in the form of a 3-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup, which has left them trailing seven points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal. Slot's decision to rest key players, including Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Hugo Ekitike, in the match against Palace drew criticism.

However, Slot defended his choices, citing the need to manage the team's resources due to an unfortunate spate of injuries. "I'm happy with the quality of the team, and I'm convinced by the strategy and policy we have," Slot told a press conference ahead of Saturday's match against Aston Villa.

"When three or four players are injured, you're down to having 16 players. I believe 21 or 22 players are enough, but you have to keep them fit, as we did last season. This season, we've been struggling to keep them fit due to obvious reasons."

Slot attributed the team's injury woes to a combination of factors, including a disrupted pre-season and a congested fixture schedule. "Last season, we were more lucky [with injuries], this season we're more unlucky. No excuses for results, but we've had to play a lot of away games with only two days in between."

The Liverpool boss also addressed concerns about the team's playing style, which has been criticized for being too open and vulnerable to counter-attacks. Slot insisted that he will not compromise on his team's attacking approach, despite the recent struggles.

"It [going defensive] does go against my beliefs," Slot said. "I've won games in the past where it went against my beliefs, but it was necessary to play it in a different way."

In terms of personnel, Slot confirmed that Ryan Gravenberch could return to the team against Villa, while Curtis Jones and Alexander Isak are likely to miss out.

As Liverpool prepare to face Aston Villa on Saturday, Slot remains optimistic about the team's chances, despite the recent setbacks. "We have more than enough players to get a result, to play the game on Tuesday and Sunday. But I have to take care of a few of them."