Carabao Cup
Slot defends youthful Liverpool XI after 3-0 Anfield defeat
Slot defended a youthful Liverpool XI after a 3-0 Anfield loss, citing rotation, injuries and depth.
Crystal Palace produced a clear 3-0 win at Anfield as Ismaïla Sarr scored twice and left Liverpool facing questions over a remarkably inexperienced starting XI.
Manager Arne Slot faced pointed scrutiny after leaving senior figures such as Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté and Mohamed Salah out of the matchday squad. The nine substitutes between them had just 19 first-team appearances, and none were older than 21.
In a series of postmatch explanations Slot compared his selection to other Premier League sides. “I saw City’s lineup and I don’t think they had one starter from the weekend,” Slot mistakenly moaned, “but it felt as if you look at their lineup they played with their 11 starters. So maybe it also gives a little bit of insight—everybody has always said how big of a squad we have.” He pointed to Manchester City bringing proven senior players off the bench in their cup game, citing John Stones, Joško Gvardiol and Phil Foden being used against Swansea City.
He also referenced Chelsea as an example of available depth. “When we played Chelsea, I said, ‘They’re missing eight but they can still bring Estêvão in.’ We are only missing four players at the moment and already we needed to start with four players under the age of 19. And after I made two substitutions we were on six [under-19s].”
Slot stressed the demands on a squad still adapting. “I saw some of the struggles that the players have had in preseason and players that came from different leagues,” the Dutch boss sighed. “It is a new challenge for them to play at Premier League and Champions League level, three games in seven days.”
He defended using academy options in the Carabao Cup. “To add to that, this club has always used this competition for their academy players as well,” Slot added in a desperate attempt to save face. “So for the non-starters and the academy players, this felt to me like the right decision.”
On injuries he warned of risks to player fitness: “Last time I played a player that wasn’t fully prepared—we thought he was prepared but it was the first time—[Alexander] Isak, he got injured. Last time we played Southampton [Giovanni] Leoni was injured and it was a red card for Hugo Ekitiké. Those are the things we can’t use with a big week coming up,” he told Sky Sports.
He finished by highlighting squad limitations. “People all of a sudden think we have 25 players available. But we mainly have 20 players then we have four injuries. I only have one right fullback, Conor Bradley, as an example. Every time I had to play him twice in three days or three times in seven days [last season] I had to take him off with a hamstring injury or something else.
“Are you willing to take that risk with such a big week coming up?”
Arsenal
Arsenal complete six consecutive clean sheets, a top-flight first in 137 years
Arsenal completed six successive clean sheets in October, a top-flight first in 137 years. Record set.
Arsenal recorded a run of six straight shutouts in October, a sequence that began with a 2–0 Champions League win over Olympiacos on Oct. 1 and concluded with Wednesday night’s 2–0 Carabao Cup victory against Brighton. Per Opta, no top-flight side in the 137-year history of the division has played, won and not conceded across six games in the same month.
The sequence of results reads: Oct. 1 Champions League Olympiacos (H) 2–0 W; Oct. 4 Premier League West Ham (H) 2–0 W; Oct. 18 Premier League Fulham (A) 1–0 W; Oct. 21 Champions League Atlético Madrid (H) 4–0 W; Oct. 26 Premier League Crystal Palace (H) 1–0 W; Oct. 29 Carabao Cup Brighton (H) 2–0 W.
Defensive statistics underline the run: Games 6, Goals conceded 0, xG against 4.15, Shots conceded 59 and Shots on target conceded 11. Kepa Arrizabalaga made six saves in the cup tie with Brighton, while over the previous five matches David Raya faced only five shots on target.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has set a clear defensive objective: “More than control, I want dominance,” he once said. “Dominance in the right area and not allowing the opponent to breathe. This is what we do.” Even so, Arteta was frank about weaknesses in the Brighton match: “It’s some very sloppy giveaways that we did give, in very dangerous areas. We didn’t apply two or three rules that we always have in second phases, for example, and we could have been punished,” he huffed.
Brighton fired off 18 shots at the Emirates, the most any side has produced there since Brighton in August 2024, when Arsenal were reduced to 10 players for almost half of that contest. Few opponents have found the net this season; only three players have scored against Arsenal: Dominik Szoboszlai courtesy of a staggering free kick, Erling Haaland on a quick breakaway for Manchester City and Newcastle United’s Nick Woltemade with a towering header back in September.
After the 4–0 Champions League defeat, Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone said: “I would say [they are] the best team we have faced this season,” a visibly defeated Diego Simeone sighed after that 4–0 Champions League reverse. Context remains important: five of the six matches were at the Emirates and opposition varied in attacking threat, but the statistical and historical significance of the run is clear.
Arsenal
Max Dowman becomes Arsenal’s youngest ever starter in Carabao Cup fourth round
Max Dowman became Arsenal’s youngest-ever starter at 15 years, 302 days in the Carabao Cup tie. today
Mikel Arteta named Max Dowman in his starting XI for Arsenal’s Carabao Cup fourth-round tie with Brighton & Hove Albion, making sweeping changes after the weekend victory over Crystal Palace. The selection handed Dowman his first senior start and established a new club record.
At 15 years and 302 days, Dowman is the youngest starter in Arsenal history. He surpassed the previous mark set by academy graduate Jack Porter, who made his senior debut against Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup last term at 16 years and 72 days.
Dowman is also already the second-youngest appearance-maker in Premier League history, a distinction only Ethan Nwaneri has claimed ahead of him. The teenager is expected to commit his long-term future to Arsenal and, given his early breakthrough, could add further records before the 2025/26 season concludes.
The start places Dowman among a long list of early debutants from Arsenal’s history. The club’s register of youngest starters includes Cesc Fàbregas (16 years, 177 days), Jack Wilshere (16 years, 266 days), Gerry Ward (16 years, 321 days), David O’Leary (17 years, 106 days), Serge Gnabry (17 years, 108 days), Arturo Lopoli (17 years, 125 days) and Richie Powling (17 years, 159 days). Jack Porter and Ethan Nwaneri also feature prominently in the modern era of academy graduations.
Arteta’s decision to rotate his squad for a cup tie reflects the club’s use of the Carabao Cup as a platform to blood youth players. Dowman’s elevation will be monitored closely as he transitions from academy prospect to senior squad member. The appearance is a significant milestone for the player and a notable moment in the club’s long history of introducing young talent at competitive level.
Arsenal
Arteta confident Dowman will stay as Arsenal advance talks on first professional deal
Arteta confident Max Dowman will remain at Arsenal as club advances talks on his first pro contract.
Mikel Arteta has played down the idea that Arsenal risk losing Max Dowman to Real Madrid or another rival while negotiations continue over the teenager’s status. Dowman, 15, is not yet eligible to sign a senior contract but is in discussions with the club about his scholar status and a first professional contract that can be pre-signed when he turns 16.
Arteta pointed to the player’s affinity with the club and the family’s attitude as reasons for optimism. “I don’t think about [losing Dowman] because everything that I hear from the player and the family has been very positive,” he told reporters. “[Staying long-term] is we all want and I think what he wants as well. After that it is more for [sporting director] Andrea [Berta] and the club.
“But the feeling that I have is that genuinely he loves it here. He is a huge Arsenal supporter and his family are really happy with the way things are developing around him as well. Hopefully for many years he will be with us.”
Dowman made his first-team debut in August, becoming the club’s second youngest ever player behind Ethan Nwaneri. Arteta has previously shown a willingness to hand very young players senior minutes, having introduced Nwaneri to the first team in 2022. Age alone has not been a barrier: “If we looked at his passport every day we would never play him, simple as that,” Arteta said. “So it is finding a balance, an understanding, especially the load, the things that are changing in his life, and making sure he can cope with that. So far, he has done that.”
This season Dowman has made three first-team appearances, totaling 54 minutes, and further chances could arise as Arsenal manage absences in attack. Arteta conceded the squad is stretched ahead of the Carabao Cup tie with Brighton & Hove Albion. “In the front line, that is where we have more difficulties,” he said. “Gabby Jesus out, Kai [Havertz] out, [Gabriel] Martinelli and [Noni] Madueke out. We have to be more careful as we don’t have many options. ]”
