Liverpool's drop-off holds lessons for Arne Slot as fatigue takes toll against Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain

17 March 2025, 14:15 | Updated: 17 March 2025, 15:30

Arne Slot rejected the idea that Liverpool's Carabao Cup final loss to Newcastle was down to fatigue, saying it had "nothing to do with running" in his post-match press conference. Instead, he highlighted his side's failure to win enough duels.

It is in those physical battles, though, that the signs of tiredness have become most apparent. In the last fortnight, Liverpool have registered three of their five lowest duel success rates all season.

The issue was most pronounced away against Paris Saint-Germain, when Liverpool won just 32.5 per cent of the game's duels, the club's lowest success rate on record in the Champions League. In the second leg of that tie at Anfield, and against Newcastle at Wembley on Sunday, their success rate was 42.7 per cent.

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