Slot: I don’t like ringing changes but had no choice

ARNE Slot insists he has had no choice this season than to keep tinkering with his title-winning team as he defended the rate of change at Liverpool.

- ARNE Slot insists he has

‘The Reds have undergone a significant overhaul since lifting a record-equalling 20th championship last season with almost £450million worth of summer arrivals while a raft of established squad regulars have departed.

‘The situation has been exacerbated by a succession of injuries during the opening months of the campaign and a lack of proper preseason for players such as £125m British record signing ‘Alexander Isak, midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and right-back Conor Bradley.

Liverpool's inconsistent team selection contributed to a recent run of six defeats in seven games that ramped up the pressure on Slot before he opted to rely less on new signings in his starting lineup, resulting in successive home wins against Aston Villa in the Premier League and Real Madrid in the Champions League.

‘And ahead of Sunday’s trip to title contenders Manchester City, Slot - who welcomed Isak back to training on Friday after a fortnight out with a groin problem - has explained his heavy rotation this campaign.

“I’m known as being a manager who prefers not to change but I couldn’t do anything different to what I did,’ said the Liverpool head coach.

“Then of course we brought new players in and they have to adapt.

“Ryan Gravenberch missed the first two games of the season, (Alexis) Mac Allister was out the whole preseason, Conor Bradley wasn’t able to play, Jeremie Frimpong wasn’t able to play many games.

“Alexander Isak came in and had to do preseason inside the season. You could say ‘why do you play him?’, but then he wouldn't be fit until the end of the season.