Rodri injury forces Arne Slot to make CONTROVERSIAL decision

Rodri has suffered a major injury and is out of Manchester City’s season. That could force Arne Slot into a controversial decision.

Everyone knows that modern football is a clustered, never-take-your-eyes-off spectacle that is frustrating players and enthralling fans.

As such, Liverpool find themselves in a situation two months from now where they play Real Madrid at Anfield on a Wednesday night and then welcome Manchester City just four days later.

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With such a tight schedule throughout the entire season - they are currently in the midst of 7 games in three weeks - rotation and recovery will be key.

Just this week, Rodri mentioned in passing the idea of a players strike to protest the ever-increasing amount of games being pushed onto stars, before promptly injuring his ACL and facing the rest of the season on the sidelines.

It is a cruel, cinematic example of the exact problem Rodri was raising.

However, methods must be found in the madness. And with this particular example, Liverpool’s best bet might be to play a complete second team for the visit of the European Champions so that their best XI is refreshed for the pivotal Premier League clash.

You might be thinking that these are the ramblings of a madman. Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr. and the gang turn up to Merseyside and Liverpool send out players that haven’t had much playing time at all like lambs to the slaughter?

But with the new Champions League format sacrifices have to be made. Every team plays two extra games this season and, due to the new league-style format, a team can finish 24th out of 36 teams and qualify for the next round. And yes, whilst one of those fixtures may be against Real Madrid, games against Girona, Lille, PSV, Bologna and Bayer Leverkusen give Liverpool ample opportunity to ensure they finish in a respectable position and live to fight another day in Europe.

Additionally, this sacrifice would be made so that the team was operating at 100% against evergreen title challengers Manchester City. A Manchester City team that, if the reports are to be believed, will be without the best defensive midfielder in the world, the fulcrum of their team: Rodri.

A weakened Manchester City head to Anfield

This is not to say that City are not a good side without Rodri, or to celebrate the injury in any way - the injury is horrible and should be wished on no one. But it creates a situation that forces Arne Slot’s hand one way or the other.

On the one hand, he takes the Real Madrid game at 100% - go full strength against a massive team and generate unstoppable momentum. That, however, leaves everyone that little bit more tired against City. It's a move that would anger some who would absolutely prefer players are rested for a weakened City - potentially the biggest fixture all season.

On the other, it's a chance for Slot to rest his team for City and pick up a gigantic win that could lead them on the path to winning the Premier League title. But that means sacrificing a chance to make a massive statement against the European champions.

Either way Slot's decision will be a controversial one - especially if Liverpool do need points to qualify. But surely, with a weakened City heading to Anfield, the Dutchman will prioritise that fixture.

And if Liverpool are lifting the Premier League at the end of the season I’m sure no one will be thinking about a dreary night in late November.