Liverpool coach Arne Slot has confirmed plans to rotate the team in their Premier League clash against Chelsea on Sunday after winning the title.
The Reds emerged champions last Sunday with a 5-1 victory over Tottenham, and they have an 15-point lead over second-placed Arsenal at the top of the table.
Liverpool have nothing to play for again this season after they lost to Newcastle United in the final of the Carabao Cup, and crashed out of the Champions League to PSG.
However, Chelsea are in a Champions League battle with the likes of Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle United.
Slot has hinted at the opportunity of giving the second choice team the chance to play against Chelsea and in their remaining matches.
He said: “It’s nice we play some strong teams with Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton and Palace, it gives us a challenge,” Slot told reporters on Friday. “We have to look at this as the start of next season. It’s four games we are trying to win.
“My lineups will be different to what we’ve had the last 10 months, [we] won’t change everyone but there will be some rotation. Not to say we will lose, we have a lot of trust in those [players].
“I think some of the players deserved to play earlier because they have trained so well and are good enough, but I mainly chose the same players so I see where they are looking ahead to next season a bit, but also because they deserve to play this season.”
Slot also revealed that winning the Premier League title will boost Liverpool’s transfer activity in the summer.
“Winning the league, having these fans, I think this is a big attraction to every player we want to bring in, and that’s definitely helpful,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca has confirmed that they will give Liverpool a guard of honour before their Premier League clash on Sunday.
He said: “I think it’s a tradition, it’s something you have to do and we want to do. First of all, they won the league, so they deserve that, and hopefully we can be there (as champions) very soon.
“I don’t think we need that to understand how good it is to win the Premier League. We know that it’s something very nice.
Maresca believes Liverpool will not take their foot off the gas when they play Chelsea because they have won the league.
He concluded: “It’s always nice to play in this kind of game, but I don’t think they will be any different or relaxed because they have already won the title.
“They are a very good team and deserved to win the Premier League this season. The gap is there, you can see clearly. My feeling is we are in the right direction and hopefully this gap can be smaller and closer next season.”
