Arne Slot explains why he “had to” replace Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold in the game…

Arne Slot has clarified the necessity behind substituting Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold during the 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, emphasizing that their fitness levels dictated the decision.

Despite not wanting to remove either player, Slot acknowledged that their physical condition compelled him to make the changes.

Liverpool made only one alteration from their recent victory over Wolves, with Curtis Jones stepping in for Luis Diaz, who had started three consecutive matches.

The match resulted in two points lost for Liverpool, who struggled to convert chances and defend effectively during set pieces, ultimately having to come from behind.

Alexander-Arnold’s equalizer shortly after the hour mark revitalized the team, but both he and Jota were substituted shortly thereafter.

Darwin Nunez and Conor Bradley entered the game in the 66th minute, with Nunez missing key opportunities to put Liverpool ahead, while Bradley faced yet another injury setback.

Slot expressed his reluctance to make these substitutions in his post-match comments to TNT Sports.

He stated, “Unfortunately, Jota has been unavailable for four or five months and could only manage 60 minutes today, just like Trent.

“That’s why we had to make those changes; I would have preferred to keep them on the field.”

He continued, “With matches coming up on Sunday and Wednesday, we must be cautious about injuries, as seen with Conor.

We need to take care of our players. Both Jota and Trent performed admirably.”

Liverpool’s failure to capitalize on scoring opportunities was evident, with Jota, like Nunez, failing to register a shot on target—his closest attempt hitting the crossbar.

With challenging fixtures against Manchester City and Newcastle on the horizon, Slot must seek to inject fresh energy and enhance the team’s performance both in possession and defensively to avoid further dropped points.