It’s getting to that part of the season where every selection turns into a referendum, and the latest one seems to be: why isn’t Arne Slot starting a couple of 17-year-olds? The simple answer is the obvious one. Because it’s the Premier League, and “giving them a chance” can’t be the only reason you pick a team.

If the youngsters aren’t ready to start ahead of established options, then they aren’t ready. That’s not a slight on them either. Most academy players never start league games for a side with Liverpool’s expectations. The jump is massive, and you don’t soften it by pretending it isn’t there.

Opportunity still needs a proper reason

Whenever this debate pops up, I always come back to the same question: who are you actually dropping? It’s easy to say “play the kids” in the abstract. It’s harder when you have to name the player you’d take out, and then live with what that decision does to the team’s control, shape, and confidence.

Because that’s the other part people skip over. Young players usually get their first proper league minutes when the side is settled, the game state is kind, and the manager can protect them. When you’re in control, when you’re a goal or two up, when you can keep the ball and manage the tempo, it’s a totally different environment. Throwing them in while the team is still trying to find its rhythm is how you get a promising lad labelled “not ready” after one rough afternoon.

Klopp wasn’t sentimental about it either

There’s a bit of revisionism around how Jürgen Klopp handled the academy. Yes, he gave opportunities. Trent Alexander-Arnold got his. Conor Bradley got his. Jarell Quansah got his. But more often than not, those doors opened because first-team players were injured or unavailable, not because Klopp felt like handing out minutes for the sake of it.

Curtis Jones is the best example of the other route. He didn’t need charity. He played well enough that leaving him out became harder than putting him in. That’s the standard, really. Earn it, force it, make it unavoidable.

Slot’s approach feels familiar, not harsh

If Klopp had seen his role primarily as “blooding youngsters for the future”, we’d have seen far more league minutes for other highly-rated lads over the years. We didn’t. And that’s not a criticism of Klopp. It’s just a reminder that Liverpool have tended to be pragmatic: use young players when they’re ready, when the moment is right, and when the squad situation demands it.

So when Slot takes the same professional line, I’m not sure why it’s suddenly framed as stubbornness or a lack of bravery. He’s trying to win matches and steady the side. The kids will get their chances, but Liverpool don’t have to manufacture a crisis to create a pathway.

On this one, “not guilty” is about right.

Written by Monstersouness: 4 January 2026

Tags: efl injury tactics