Liverpool boss Arne Slot is not shy of making big calls this season.
When the campaign began, he chose to use Diogo Jota as the team’s striker ahead of Darwin Nunez. That decision paid off for the first few weeks before the Portuguese forward got injured. Slot then chose to use Luis Diaz in the role after Jota’s injury which was also a smart move.
The former Feyenoord boss has not been afraid to make big calls his whole time at Liverpool. He took off Mohamed Salah late against PSG when the forward was having a poor game. The substitution ended up winning the game as his replacement Harvey Elliot came off the bench to score the winner.
Quiz: Can you name the team Liverpool signed these players from?
Liverpool star tipped to make shock exit
Credit: Imago Images
Arne Slot also chose to start Caomhin Kelleher in the League Cup final on Sunday. First choice keeper Alisson had to make way on the bench for his backup to start. Kelleher is not new to the occasion, having been in goal last year for the reds’ cup triumph last year. Liverpool did not win the trophy this time around, as Newcastle sprung a surprise in the final. Dan Burn gave the Tyneside club the lead just before half time. After a cagy start to the second half, Alexander Isak pounced on a knock down in the box to double the lead. Liverpool’s only consolation was a late Federico Chiesa goal, which could not save the tie.
The decision to bench Alisson for the final seemed strange on first glance. Especially after the Brazilian was crucial in Liverpool’s Champions League ties against Paris Saint-Germain. Now, reds legend Mark Lawrenson has suggested that Alisson is on his way out of the club:
‘I have this feeling that the reason Liverpool have brought in Giorgi Mamardashvili is because Alisson is going to leave in the summer,’ Lawrenson said, quotes via Metro.
‘I have a feeling that he’ll want to leave, which will leave Caoimhin Kelleher and Mamardashvili fighting for the number one spot.
‘Alisson is now 32 years old, so I think he’ll be looking for one final big payday before he retires. Every team in the world will want Alisson, so if Liverpool can get big money for him, then it works for all parties.’
Alisson will be on Brazil duty during the international break as the Seleção Canarinho compete in the World Cup qualifiers.
