Slot made 10 changes to the starting lineup after their previous 3-2 defeat to Brentford, with many first-team players watching from the sidelines. The lineup featured a mix of young players and a few experienced players, including Milos Kerkez and Andrew Robertson.

The bench consisted of teenagers hoping to gain valuable experience in the competition. Saunders believes Slot's selection was not ideal, saying it suggests the manager may not prioritize the League Cup.

According to Saunders, Slot's decision to pick a largely youth lineup sends a message to the team and the fans. He notes that other teams, like Arsenal, often have a strong bench to draw upon in case of emergencies.

Liverpool are currently on a five-game losing streak in domestic competitions, and Saunders thinks Slot should have included more first-team players on the bench to help the team recover.

Slot cited concerns about potentially injuring key players as a reason for not bringing on more experienced players from the bench. Saunders counters that having a strong bench is essential for managing injuries and turning the game around when things go wrong.

He questions why Slot didn't use the opportunity to give some of the first-team players a chance to play, especially considering the team's struggles in recent games.