Liverpool boss Arne Slot admitted he will use the final four games of the Premier League season as an opportunity to players who have not featured much – after his side captured a 20th Premier League title last weekend.
The Reds, who have a 15-point lead over second-placed Arsenal at the top of the standings, make the trip to West London to face Chelsea on Sunday in a big game for the hosts who sit fifth and are chasing a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
“It’s nice we play some strong teams with Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton and Palace, it gives us a challenge,” Slot said to newsmen on Friday.
“We have to look at this as the start of next season. It’s four games we are trying to win.
“My lineups will be different to what we’ve had the last 10 months, [we] won’t change everyone but there will be some rotation. Not to say we will lose, we have a lot of trust in those [players].
“I think some of the players deserved to play earlier because they have trained so well and are good enough, but I mainly chose the same players so I see where they are looking ahead to next season a bit, but also because they deserve to play this season.”
Slot said he had been loaded with congratulatory messages since Liverpool clinched their record-equalling 20th English top-flight title following a 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur in front of their raucous fans at Anfield on Sunday.
“Of course, a lot of messages come from good hearts, I have tried to answer them all,” added Slot, who became the first Dutch manager to win England’s top football trophy.
“It’s been amazing, especially Sunday. One of the best days of [the players’] lives and the same for me. The way the day went, going behind, we had to work for it, scored the goals, seeing how much it meant to players and fans was special to be a part of.
“Most famous person who messaged me? I assume it was [predecessor] Jurgen [Klopp]. What did he say? ‘Congratulations, now I know what a special club it is, I am part of history,’ this type of stuff, he was really happy for the fans and the club.”
