Arne Slot drops clear Liverpool selection hint ahead of Southampton EFL Cup clash | OneFootball

Liverpool travel to face Southampton in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night

Arne Slot has hinted that Liverpool youngsters Amara Nallo and James Norris are both in contention for selection against Southampton in their upcoming EFL Cup clash.

The Reds will travel to Hampshire on Wednesday night for a place in the semi-finals of the competition, which they are looking to retain this year.

Slot’s side are flying high at the top of both the Premier League and the Champions League league phase.

But the upcoming EFL Cup clash with the Saints could prove an opportunity for the Dutchman to rotate his side amid a hectic December schedule.

Arne Slot hints at Liverpool selection decision

Slot was asked about the youngsters at the club in his pre-match press conference, praising the selection of talent available to him from the academy.

The 46-year-old has indicated that rotation will be needed in his backline midweek, suggesting youth players may come into the side in place of their regular senior options.

“It’s very positive [the level of academy players at Liverpool,” said Slot, via This Is Anfield on YouTube.

“You talk about these two [Nallo and Norris] now, but there’s a few others who have made a good impact in training sessions.

“I’m aware we’ve only got four defenders available, and probably the ones who have started a lot of times will not play 90 minutes, or maybe not even at all.

“So it’s going to be either academy players who get playing time or players nobody would expect to see in the last line that are going to play in the last line tomorrow.”

Liverpool’s EFL Cup journey

Liverpool are the holders of the EFL Cup this season, and are now one win away from reaching the final four once again.

Victories over Brighton and West Ham have seen them reach the quarter-final stages, where they will face Premier League opposition for the third time in a row.

The Reds travel to St. Mary’s, where they will face a managerless Southampton side.

The game gets underway on Wednesday at 8pm.

EFL Cup could prove important for Slot

A lot of new managers have used the EFL Cup as a springboard to winning more trophies at big clubs like Liverpool.

While they are obviously in contention in the league and Champions League, this trophy shouldn’t be overlooked by Slot either given we’re already at the quarter-final stages.

Bringing in youngsters for rotation isn’t the worst idea, it’s a very busy period and Liverpool can’t risk further injuries to their backline.

However, they can’t look past Southampton when preparing for this clash, especially as the Saints will be out to prove a point after Russell Martin’s dismissal at the weekend.