Liverpool Make Key Arne Slot Decision Before Carabao Cup Clash with Crystal Palace

Arne Slot to Skip Media Duties Before Crystal Palace Clash

Liverpool boss Arne Slot will not hold a press conference on Tuesday ahead of the Reds’ Carabao Cup tie with Crystal Palace.

Unlike Premier League, FA Cup, or Champions League fixtures — where managers are contractually required to speak to the media — Carabao Cup matches don’t carry that same obligation. As a result, Liverpool has decided not to arrange a pre-match media briefing, just as they didn’t before the previous round against Southampton. On that occasion, Slot and his staff were also part of Liverpool’s delegation attending the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris.

This approach isn’t unusual — Manchester United, Manchester City, and Everton have also skipped pre-Carabao Cup pressers in the past. Under Jürgen Klopp, assistant Pepijn Lijnders often handled those duties.

Interestingly, Slot did conduct media sessions before every Carabao Cup game last season, leading Liverpool to victories over West Ham, Brighton, Southampton, and Tottenham before falling 2–1 to Newcastle in the Wembley final — missing out narrowly on his first Liverpool trophy. He later made up for it by clinching the Premier League title.

Liverpool’s upcoming clash against FA Cup holders Crystal Palace comes at a tense moment. The Reds have lost five of their last six matches, while Palace have been beaten in three of their last four — meaning both sides are desperate for a morale-boosting win.

Slot’s decision not to face the media means there’ll be no comments from him regarding the team’s slump or the injury situation involving Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, and Alexander Isak, all of whom missed or limped off during the defeat at Brentford. Alisson, Jeremie Frimpong, and Giovanni Leoni also remain sidelined.

Instead, a Liverpool player is expected to speak to reporters before the match.

This will mark the third meeting between the two clubs this season — Palace triumphed on penalties in the Community Shield, and also kick-started Liverpool’s recent Premier League downturn with a 2–1 win at Selhurst Park.