Arne's stating the OBVIOUS

IT'S CLEAR WHY I'VE HAD TO MAKE THE CHANGES, SAYS REDS BOSS

- By IAN DOYLE

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.

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.