One factor garnered less attention at the time. Liverpool took note of Slot's approach to sports science when reviewing Feyenoord's medical records. "At Feyenoord we kept our players fit - available is a better word - but we were always one of the fittest teams in the league as well when it came to running or the last 25 minutes of the game," Slot explained earlier in the month. Liverpool will travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday unbeaten in 22 league games and 17 points ahead of the reigning champions, but their rivals may look to emulate those smaller numbers.
Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley will undoubtedly be absent from Slot's trip to Manchester City. Cody Gakpo is in doubt. However, only Nottingham Forest, with two, has fewer injuries heading into the weekend. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola hinted at a clear-out at Etihad Stadium, citing the need for players with durability. City has been losing one player per game recently: Manuel Akanji was injured at home against Real Madrid, Erling Haaland in the win over Newcastle, and John Stones away at the Bernabeu.
City's season has been derailed by one injury above all others: Rodri's, which was exacerbated by their negligence in assembling a squad without another defensive midfielder. However, it has also been notable for cluster injuries, a large number of players in the same position - particularly at centre-back - and players who have had stop-start seasons, returning only to be sidelined again. Their bodies have deteriorated, possibly due to age or overwork at a club that, by the end of this season, could have played 536 games in nine years under Guardiola, an average of 60 per season.
As a result, some may receive a pension. "That is the reality," Guardiola stated. "We need to sit down with doctors, physios, players, and agents and make it clear that some of them cannot play every three days, every month, or every two months. This is the reality. There is one more year until the World Cup. There are already many players who are unable to maintain the level of performance that we have in the past week after week. The reality is that if we want to be there again, we'll need players who are fit and available.
It was a hint about the city's old guard. Kevin De Bruyne, 34, is out of contract this summer and has become increasingly prone to injury in recent years. There was a mention of a younger Belgian, Jeremy Doku. "The last game he played was Ipswich, he was unbelievable, and then afterwards he was injured."
He may be preparing to break bad news to two centre-backs in their thirties. Nathan Ake has been sidelined three times this season, despite only starting 12 games. Stones has begun 13 and is on his fourth spell out, which could mean he is absent for two months. Guardiola's decision to sign two younger players in their position, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov, suggests that his forward planning has begun at the back.
Ederson, Mateo Kovacic, and Jack Grealish are also among City's injury-prone players, with the latter two in their thirties and the former set to join in September. Grealish has had another inconsistent season, which suggests that if he can find a taker, Guardiola may decide to end his City career.
He could certainly use more players who are always available, such as Rodri before his cruciate injury, Haaland, Bernardo Silva if he is tired from his workload, and the seemingly indestructible Josko Gvardiol. Time will tell whether Guardiola's quartet of new signings, with Nico Gonzalez at least providing a strong frame and Omar Marmoush pace, have the staying power Guardiola seeks.
The Catalan prefers to work with a smaller squad, which backfired this season, so there is an even greater need to keep the vast majority fit. "More than 50 games is too much for the players in the season," he said, concerned about his future at 65 or 70. "It is too much for human beings. "The body cannot sustain it."
The limit may be around 50. In City's treble season of 2022-23, 11 of Guardiola's core players played at least 47 games, with three playing 39 or more. When they completed a domestic treble in 2018-19, 11 players made 44 or more appearances. Last season, 13 of them played 42 games. This year's figures include those who were used more than City would have liked, such as Ilkay Gundogan and Rico Lewis, as well as those who may have been injured as a result of overwork, such as Akanji.
As a result, envious glances may be directed at Anfield and the relatively empty treatment table. Slot is correct to argue that Liverpool's success has not been solely due to luck with injuries; however, he was eager to bring his performance coach Ruben Peeters from Feyenoord. However, he left a number of players out of the FA Cup defeat at Plymouth due to concerns that they were in what Arsene Wenger referred to as "the red zone," the stage at which injury became more likely.
He could argue that he has been missing Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Ibrahima Konate, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Diogo Jota, and Federico Chiesa at times this season. Liverpool has still found a way.
While Dominik Szoboszlai and Darwin Nunez have missed games due to illness, others, including Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, as well as Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Luis Diaz, have not been injured.
Luck or judgment? Liverpool would say the latter. City may have been unlucky, but Guardiola is eager to avoid a situation in which injury-prone players become injured. And that principle may serve as the foundation for his rebuilding, as he discards those who are unable to play every three days and cannot play their part.
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