Alan Shearer's verdict on Arne Slot's double Liverpool risk – 'Big call'

View 2 Images

Alan Shearer has hailed Arne Slot's team selection choices that sparked consecutive victories over the past week. The Reds triumphed against Real Madrid in the Champions League midweek following their Premier League success over Aston Villa last weekend.

Prior to that, Liverpool had endured four straight Premier League defeats, which saw them plummet to seventh in the table. The triumph over Villa lifted the Reds to third place before Sunday afternoon's showdown with Manchester City .

The trip to the Etihad Stadium marks Liverpool's final fixture before the November international break, the last of the calendar year. The Reds will be eager to extend their winning streak with another triumph in Manchester, having secured a 2-0 victory on their previous visit last season.

Liverpool's victories over Villa and Real followed the Reds' 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup.

The loss prompted criticism regarding the team Slot chose for the fourth-round clash, but Shearer has maintained that the recent two wins vindicate the Liverpool head coach's decisions.

"It was a big call to rest players in the League Cup against Crystal Palace, but it was done because Arne Slot felt he needed to give the players a rest and needed a reaction against Aston Villa and Real Madrid," Shearer said in an interview with Betfair .

"He got two wins from those games, so it was justified. I'm sure they'd have liked to still be in the competition, but the main aim is the Premier League and Champions League.

View 2 Images

"It wasn't brilliant against Aston Villa, but it was certainly an improvement and enough to take the three points which lead into the Real Madrid game.

"It was a brilliant atmosphere at Anfield on Tuesday evening. I was lucky enough to be there doing the co-commentary, and you just got the feeling straight away that Liverpool were going to be up for it.

"Within the first minute or two, their energy, aggression and pressing was really good. Without a shadow of doubt, it was Liverpool's best performance of the season. Every player was at it - even Florian Wirtz on the left which was a big call from Slot to leave [Cody] Gakpo out.

"There were several contenders for man of the match but for me, Conor Bradley was absolutely outstanding.

"When you consider who he was up against, he never gave Vinicius Junior a kick. Not only did he defend really well, he attacked well. Vinicius didn't have any answers - he was outstanding."

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.