Liverpool manager Arne Slot has explained his decision to start Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz on the bench in Saturday’s Merseyside Derby against Everton.
Isak, who recently joined from Newcastle in a £125 million deal, made his Liverpool debut in midweek, while Wirtz has featured in every game so far this season. For the Everton clash at Anfield, Slot instead opted for Hugo Ekitike and Dominik Szoboszlai in the starting XI.
Speaking ahead of the game, Slot admitted that fixture congestion influenced his selection. Liverpool have had a busy schedule, including matches against Burnley and Atletico Madrid in recent days.
“We needed players that were going to be ready for this game and fit enough for the intensity from the start,” Slot said. “That is what we tried to do throughout every line-up we have made against Burnley and Atletico for us to be ready for this game.”
The Dutch manager emphasized the importance of squad rotation as Liverpool balance domestic and European commitments early in the season. Fans will be eager to see how Isak and Wirtz feature later in the derby and beyond.
