Arne Slot explains leaving Federico Chiesa out of Liverpool squad in surprise U-turn

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has explained why he decided to leave Federico Chiesa out of his squad for Tuesday's game against Galatasaray. The reigning Premier League champions are hoping to return to winning ways after slipping to their first defeat of the campaign against Crystal Palace. They won their opening Champions League match against Atletico Madrid and will be looking to make it two wins from two outings in Turkey.

Chiesa, who scored in the defeat to Palace, was in line to feature against Galatasaray after being included in Liverpool's squad for the Champions League. He was drafted in to replace the injured Giovanni Leoni, who is set to miss the rest of the season with a serious knee ligament injury. However, the former was not included in the 21-man group for Tuesday's fixture.

Explaining that decision in Monday's press conference, Slot said: "He got a little niggle, I think is the word, in the last game against Palace. He tried it [in training] but he couldn't end the session, so we decided not to take him because in a few days it is Chelsea."

It remains to be seen who will start up front for Liverpool, with Hugo Ekitike returning from the one-game ban he served against Palace. Alexander Isak will also be hoping to feature after opening his account for the Reds in the win over Southampton.

Whatever happens, it will be crucial for the Merseyside giants to get back on the saddle by beating Galatasaray on away soil.

"We don't play to have possession, we play to score goals and win games," replied Slot when asked how Liverpool will approach the fixture.

"As long as [Liverpool] have existed, they have more possession than other teams, sometimes teams are happy to defend because they are very strong.

"Teams are managed so well and are so fit. It is getting harder and harder to play through, so we brought in good attackers who can help unlock those road blocks but it is never easy for any team."

Quizzed on whether he has any defensive concerns after the defeat to Palace, Slot said: "For me, defending is only a small margin. One of our strengths was kept teams away from our goal [last season] and that starts somewhere else, not defenders.

"We have conceded four goals from set-pieces, so we have changed full-backs but we have changed a bit more. The goals we conceded, I will look back in detail but the first thing that comes to my mind is not that the new full-backs are the problem.

"We need 11 players to work incredibly hard to stop chances. You can work as hard as you want, but set-pieces are a different game inside the game.

"We hardly conceded from set-pieces last season, so we have to prove we have been unlucky with that, because that can happen. But we definitely have to improve, because I see teams who win Premier League games because of set-pieces."

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