Liverpool coach tells all: Why didn't he call up Luis Díaz?

Liverpool continues its steady march in the various competitions it plays in, including the Premier League, the Champions League and the Carabao Cup (EFL Cup). In fact, in this last tournament, the Reds faced Southampton in the quarter-finals last Wednesday, December 18, achieving a 1-2 victory at St Mary's Stadium thanks to goals from Darwin Núñez and Harvey Elliott. However, the absence of Luis Díaz in this match generated some concern among the fans.

The non-inclusion of the Colombian striker, not even in the squad, set off some alarms. However, Liverpool manager Arne Slot was in charge of clarifying the situation and calming the mood in a press conference after the match.

Slot revealed that the decision to make changes to the starting line-up, including the absence of Díaz, responded mainly to the need to manage the physical condition of the players in the face of a demanding schedule. "We have made the decision that those who have played so many minutes will be given a bit of a rest this week, because the schedule will be intense again in the coming weeks," explained the coach.

The Dutch coach made it clear that the absence of Luis Díaz, like that of other figures in the team, was mainly due to two reasons: to provide opportunities to other players in the squad and to provide rest to those who have accumulated a large number of minutes in recent weeks. This rotation strategy becomes crucial in a period with a high density of matches, such as the one approaching with the end-of-year festivities.

Slot concluded by explaining the logic behind his decisions: "Those who have played a lot, (would play) only 45 or 60 minutes, and those who have not played much, 90 (minutes). That is what we did, and it was good for us that it was enough to win it." With this statement, the coach confirmed that Díaz's absence was a preventive and strategic measure, seeking to optimize the team's performance in the long term.

In summary:

Luis Diaz was not called up for the match against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.

The decision was in response to a rotation strategy by manager Arne Slot to manage the fitness of the players.

The demanding schedule and the need to give minutes to other players were key factors in the decision.

Diaz's absence was a preventative measure and is not due to any injury or physical problem.

This explanation from Arne Slot dispels any concerns about Luis Diaz's situation in the team. His absence was purely strategic and he is expected to return to action in the upcoming matches, where his contribution will be fundamental for Liverpool.