Liverpool vs Crystal Palace: Arne Slot MUST Go Strong for this Huge Clash
A win here would mean more than just a spot in the quarter-finals...
Liverpool’s fourth round clash against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup has to be the turning point of the season for Arne Slot. After five defeats in their last six games, the pressure is building fast, and with Arsenal pulling seven points clear at the top of the Premier League, this game at Anfield is bigger than most would like to admit.
Slot may have won the league in his first season, but the clouds are starting to gather over Anfield already. Liverpool are staring at the prospect of a season unraveling before Halloween. A win against Palace would mean more than just progression into the quarter-finals, but it would provide hope to a fanbase that are lost on the identity of this side.
Liverpool’s Slide Is No Longer a Blip
A team losing five out of six is in crisis. It’s as simple as that. Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Manchester United and Brentford have all taken three points off Liverpool in recent weeks. The performances have been as concerning as the results. Lethargic, disjointed and worryingly soft, Liverpool have lost their bite. Slot’s side are being outmuscled, outfought and out-thought.
No matter how many times you rewatch those games, the pattern is clear. Teams have started to exploit Liverpool’s softness in duels and a lack of physicality in key areas. Long balls, set pieces, second balls. It’s the gritty part of the game is where Liverpool are currently being undone. This is a far cry from the Klopp era where winning second balls and fighting for your teammates were non-negotiable.
Slot Must Go Strong – There’s No Room for Rotation
Traditionally, this is the stage of the Carabao Cup where Liverpool have experimented with youth. It’s a competition the club has used to blood talent, give minutes to second-string players and keep key men fresh. That luxury doesn’t exist this time.
Slot can’t afford to go weak. Not with Real Madrid, Manchester City and Aston Villa on the horizon. Not when confidence is fragile and belief is fraying. This is not the time for resting your key players. If Liverpool fall to another defeat at Anfield then the pressure on Slot could become unbearable.
He has to treat this like a must-win, because it is one.
Liverpool Predicted XI: Woodman, Bradley, Gomez, Van Dijk (C), Robertson, Endo, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo.
Crystal Palace Will Not Lie Down
Palace are not here to make up the numbers. The FA Cup winners have already beaten the Reds once this season. They’ve turned themselves into a well-drilled, physically imposing unit with wingbacks who press high and centre-backs who are confident on the ball. It also wasn’t long ago that they had gone 20 games unbeaten across all competitions.
Yes, they’ve hit a bit of a rough patch recently. Losses to Arsenal, Everton and a draw against Bournemouth have checked their momentum, but make no mistake, they will not be an easy out. Glasner has instilled structure and belief, and even if he rotates for this tie, their system remains solid.
In fact, this is likely to be another case where Liverpool’s quality has to shine through in the latter stages, assuming both teams rotate slightly.
Saving the Season
The League Cup has been kind to Liverpool in recent years. Finalists in three of the last four seasons, they know how to navigate this tournament. It’s also been a springboard – a morale booster that has galvanised the squad before tougher challenges ahead. That’s exactly what’s needed now.
Winning a trophy always matters, but for now the short-term gains of a positive result here are huge. You have to stop the rot before you can start looking towards the future.
Win, and everything changes. Momentum returns. The dressing room lifts. And Liverpool can go into that brutal run with belief, not baggage.