Liverpool adds another game to hectic fixture schedule as Arne Slot faces selection dilemma

Liverpool is facing a hectic end to 2024 after having the date for its Carabao Cup quarter-final confirmed.

Arne Slot’s side will head to the south coast again after being drawn away to Southampton in the last-eight, having seen off Brighton last month. It’s now been confirmed the game at St Mary’s will take place on Wednesday, December 18.

The Reds are of course looking to defend their crown after winning the competition last season, beating Chelsea in the final back in February. If they’re to make a return to Wembley though, they will have to contend with a hectic fixture schedule.

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The trip to Southampton will be sandwiched between Premier League fixtures at home to Fulham (December 14) and away to Tottenham (December 22). Having made it through to the quarter-finals, Liverpool will have to play 11 games in just 36 days following this month’s international break.

That includes nine games in December, with very little opportunity for Slot to rest some his bigger names amid Premier League and Champions League commitments. The Reds face huge games against the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City, Newcastle, Everton and Spurs before Christmas.

The Southampton game may therefore be one of his only chances to rotate his squad and keep his players fit for a potential push for silverware this season.

Liverpool fixtures after November international break

Southampton (A) – Premier League, November 24

Real Madrid (H) – Champions League, November 27

Man City (H) – Premier League, December 1

Newcastle (A) – Premier League, December 4

Everton (A) – Premier League, December 7

Girona (A) – Champions League, December 10

Fulham (H) – Premier League, December 14

Southampton (A) – Carabao Cup, December 18

Tottenham (A) – Premier League, December 22

Leicester (H) – Premier League, December 26

West Ham (A) – Premier League, December 29

Liverpool.com says: It’s certainly going to be tricky for Slot to rotate his squad with those fixtures, especially with the Reds flying high in the Premier League and Champions League. The Carabao Cup offers the earliest chance for him to bag some silverware, but fans will definitely forgive Slot if he chooses to prioritize the league and Europe.

Those four fixtures after the international break, starting with the clash with Real Madrid, will be a huge test in particular. Hopefully Alisson Becker, Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota are back for that run, and there are no more injuries before then.