SOCCER: Slot says Liverpool monitoring player workloads amid congested schedule

Liverpool manager Arne Slot says the club is carefully monitoring player workloads to prevent further injuries during a congested schedule, ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round match against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Midfielder Wataru Endo suffered an ankle injury in Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Sunderland, adding to Liverpool’s injury list that already includes defenders Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley, and Jeremie Frimpong.

“We have three clear priorities: FA Cup, Champions League qualification, and Champions League,” Slot said at Anfield on Friday.

“We are also aware of the limited options, so load management is important. The last thing we need is another injury. It’s always tough for a manager to make the best decision every time. It wouldn’t be the first time a player gets injured if they have to play three games in seven days. The most important thing is we train today, listen to the players, see how they feel, and make the best decisions.”

Slot confirmed that Endo faces a long spell out and suggested that academy players could feature against Brighton.

“I am always looking at the younger players. A few of them are getting closer to first-team football,” the Dutch manager said. “Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni have had that, and games like this could be an option. But it’s about the right balance. We play a strong team, and who to play is something to think about.”

Liverpool sit sixth in the Premier League with 42 points from 26 matches, 13 behind leaders Arsenal. They have also secured a direct place in the Champions League playoffs with a top-eight finish.

-Reporting by Karan Prashant Saxena in Bengaluru; Editing by David Holmes/Reuters