What Arne Slot’s Decisions Mean for Elliott and Quansah’s Liverpool Future | OneFootball

Elliott and Quansah: A Tale of Reduced Trust Under Arne Slot

It is becoming increasingly apparent that Liverpool manager Arne Slot may not entirely trust Jarell Quansah and, more surprisingly, Harvey Elliott. While Quansah’s limited experience might justify some hesitation, Elliott’s situation raises more eyebrows, given his previous role as a dependable squad member. Let’s examine the evidence from this season and recent managerial decisions to understand what’s going on.

Quansah’s Limited Role Speaks Volumes

Jarell Quansah has clocked just 617 minutes across all competitions this season, a clear indication of his limited role in Slot’s plans. His Premier League involvement totals 225 minutes, spread over five matches. Despite his defensive potential, Quansah has seemingly slipped down the pecking order.

This was glaringly evident during Liverpool’s game against Nottingham Forest, where Slot’s substitutions told a significant story. When Ibrahima Konaté—already struggling for fitness—was subbed off, Slot moved Ryan Gravenberch, a midfielder, into a makeshift centre-back role rather than trusting Quansah. For a manager to prefer reshuffling the midfield instead of utilising a natural centre-back speaks volumes about how he sees Quansah’s readiness for key moments.

Even with four EFL Cup appearances (totalling 300 minutes), Quansah has yet to cement himself as a reliable option. His exclusion in decisive moments suggests a lack of confidence in his ability to influence games, potentially stalling his development in a critical season.

Elliott’s Struggle for Minutes and a Defined Role

More surprising is Harvey Elliott’s predicament under Arne Slot. Despite being a bright spark for Liverpool in previous seasons, Elliott has accumulated just 237 minutes across all competitions this campaign. He returned from injury in November and people forget how often he’s been an unused sub.

Slot’s comments about Elliott only add to the confusion. When questioned about the midfielder’s lack of game time, Slot stated: “He wants his minutes as a 10, but he must be patient.” This public remark highlights the disconnect between Elliott’s preferred role and the manager’s tactical setup. Against Nottingham Forest, when Dominik Szoboszlai was substituted, Slot introduced Curtis Jones—a player who has struggled for form—over Elliott. This decision, in a match crying out for creativity to force a winner, left fans questioning why Elliott wasn’t trusted to provide that spark.

Elliott’s technical ability and versatility have often been assets for Liverpool, yet Slot’s reluctance to involve him in pivotal moments raises doubts about his standing within the squad. With the team needing something different against Forest, his absence was hard to ignore.

Slot’s Dilemma: Balancing Youth and Results

Slot’s handling of Quansah and Elliott reflects a broader challenge of managing young talent in a competitive environment. Quansah’s situation suggests the manager is unwilling to take risks with unproven players in crucial moments, even if it means compromising the structure of the team. The decision to move Gravenberch—a midfielder—into the backline instead of relying on Quansah was a clear sign of this.

Elliott, meanwhile, appears caught in a tactical limbo. While his preference to play as a No. 10 is understandable, Liverpool’s system rarely accommodates such a role. Instead, Slot seems to favour other midfield options like Curtis Jones, even when their form is inconsistent. This not only limits Elliott’s opportunities but may also stifle his development.

A Confidence Crisis?

For both Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah, Arne Slot’s approach this season has been less than encouraging. Whether it’s a tactical preference or a deeper scepticism about their readiness, their reduced minutes are a concern. Elliott’s lack of opportunities in key moments and Slot’s reluctance to trust Quansah as a defensive option highlight the challenges young players face in earning consistent roles at a top club.

As the season progresses, it remains to be seen if Slot will change his stance. For now, however, the evidence suggests he doesn’t view them as integral to his plans. Liverpool fans will hope this changes before two promising talents are sidelined indefinitely.