'That's a strange question!' - Arne Slot hits back at suggestion Liverpool could rest players against Man Utd as Dutchman insists Red Devils are 'much better' than league table shows

Liverpool face United this weekend in a clash that could not appear more one-sided from the outside. The Reds are top of the Premier League, while United are 14th and Ruben Amorim, their new manager, has admitted there is a very real prospect of relegation this season.

Nevertheless, when asked about the prospect of resting some of his key players this weekend, Slot bristled at the prospect. Liverpool play Tottenham in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final in midweek, but the Dutchman has rejected any prospect of placing a player like Mohamed Salah or Virgil van Dijk on the bench.

Slot told reporters: "A strange question… no I don’t plan to. It’s a big game. For me, I said it before the first fixture and one more time, they have much better players than the league table shows. It will take a while, maybe, for Ruben Amorim, but they will definitely go up, and they are much, much better than the league table shows."

Slot does have sympathy for his opposite number, however, adding: "Every manager has sympathy with others because we all know how hard this job is. A lot of pressure in this job, we like it otherwise we wouldn’t do it. He did so well at Sporting. He has a good squad of players and he eventually bring the best out of them."

Liverpool will aim to climb nine points clear of Arsenal with a win over United. The Red Devils will hope to put some more space between themselves and the relegation zone.