Michael Edwards should call out MAJOR Arne Slot problem

Arne Slot has been pretty much perfect since he has arrived at Liverpool but there is one issue that is brewing on the horizon.

The Dutchman has had a difficult week as the Reds crashed out of the Champions League and lost the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool.

READ MORE: Liverpool Transfer News: Alvarez one step CLOSER as star's head is turned

Both games were a disappointing watch with Liverpool struggling to make an impact against sides who were simply better than them. At Wembley in the cup final, the Reds managed just two shots on target which is simply not good enough for a club aspiring to be among the best in the world.

But the biggest worry for Slot's long-term tenure at Liverpool will not be about those results or performances. It's something else that he has failed to incorporate from Jurgen Klopp's era.

EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea's INSANE offer beats Liverpool to €22m transfer

And it continues to bubble up on the surface.

Why Arne Slot's lack of U20 minutes will worry Michael Edwards

Slot has been criticised for his lack of rotation since arriving at Liverpool. This was acutely felt in the defeat to Newcastle with Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott giving the Reds a rare late spark in the game, and showing why they deserve more minutes on the pitch.

But an even bigger concern for Liverpool will be Slot's lack of minutes to young players. Under Klopp last season, players who were 20 years old or younger at the start of the 2023/24 campaign played 8161 minutes in all competitions for Liverpool.

This season that number has dropped to just 714 under Slot. That is just under 9% of the minutes that were given under Klopp and this isn't necessarily a surprise.

With the exception of Yankuba Minteh (1991 minutes) at Feyenoord last season Slot gave players 20 years old or younger just 603 minutes.

During his five years in the Eredivisie, Slot handed debuts to teenager eight times at Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar an average of 1.6 per season. In eight years, Klopp had handed 20 debuts to teenagers in the Premier League at Liverpool which is an average of 2.5 per season.

Klopp was far more open to utilise the club's academy, and this became an integral policy at Liverpool. The young players Klopp brought in were quickly integrated into the first team and played a key role in the club's success - last season's Carabao Cup final is a great example.

And when those players were not good enough to remain in the first team squad because of Klopp's ability to put them in the spotlight the club's sporting director Michael Edwards was always able to make a lot of money from them.

During his first stint at the club, Edwards made £120m from selling Liverpool's academy players (The Athletic) during a five year period.

That pretty much allowed him to invest heavily into the first team and bring in the likes of Alisson, Fabinho and etc.

The hope had been he'd be able to continue this tradition during his second stint. However, if the talented youngsters are not given a chance, they will never be able to increase their value.

READ MORE: Liverpool nearing move to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold with Arne Slot favourite

Which is why in this area at least Slot has to change his approach and if he doesn't Edwards will inevitably be having a word.

Exclusive: PSG make €100million proposal to Virgil Van Dijk