Liverpool Boss Hints at Opportunity for Fringe Players at Stamford Bridge
With the Premier League title already secured, Arne Slot has revealed he plans to use Sunday’s trip to Chelsea to assess several squad players who have had limited minutes this season.
The Dutchman, speaking ahead of the match, said that while he doesn’t expect sweeping changes, the fixture presents a chance to evaluate how some of Liverpool’s developing talents respond to high-level competition.
“There’s not going to be seven or eight changes,” Slot explained. “But there might be one or two players coming in who haven’t had many chances. It’s about seeing where they are in their development — and Chelsea away is a good test for that.”
Potential Starts for Elliott, Endo, Quansah and Chiesa
Among those likely to feature are Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo, Jarell Quansah and Federico Chiesa. Slot emphasized the importance of keeping squad morale high and hinted that small rotation could bring “a new spirit” to the final stretch of games.
Conor Bradley, who missed the recent 5-1 win over Spurs due to injury, is expected to return to the matchday squad, though not necessarily the starting XI. Slot confirmed: “He will probably be back in the squad.”
No Tactical Shift, Just Small Adjustments
Slot also dismissed the idea of experimenting tactically, noting that the short training window makes major adjustments impractical. “You can’t just flip tactics with two sessions before a big match. That’s something for pre-season, not now.”
He added that he often comes up with motivational approaches in the final two days before a game, but hasn’t yet decided exactly how he’ll inspire the players for their remaining matches.
Big Names Still Hungry
Despite the opportunity to rest key players, Slot joked about how difficult it might be to take stars like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk out of the team. “Dragging them off the pitch might be the real challenge,” he laughed.
With the pressure now off, Liverpool’s remaining games offer a chance to rotate sensibly, maintain momentum, and continue evaluating depth heading into what could be a busy summer.
Next fixture: Chelsea vs Liverpool – Sunday, May 4th at 4:30 PM BST