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Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Arne Slot didn't mention them by name.

But for anyone who watched Liverpool stutter their way past Wolves on Sunday, their identity was patently obvious.

"I only had one or two players in my mind who looked exhausted but not everyone," contemplated the Reds boss when assessing the impact of tiredness on his team during the second half at Anfield.

The worry for Slot, though, is that both Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister were evidently showing the effects of a gruelling schedule that, with three Premier League games in eight days starting at Aston Villa on Wednesday evening, is now approaching a busy and potentially pivotal period.

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Mac Allister in particular was a reaction to his huge efforts throughout the game at Everton four days earlier when his equaliser helped drag Liverpool back into the game.

Having been replaced on the hour at Goodison following an underwhelming performance, the Holland international was similarly ineffective against Wolves and guilty of losing Matheus Cunha for the goal that caused nerves to be frayed for much of the final quarter on Sunday.

It was testament both to the high standards the 22-year-old has set this season along with his integral role in Liverpool's championship challenge that the dip from Gravenberch has been so noticeable.

Don't forget, it was only a few weeks ago he was bossing the game in victory at Bournemouth.

Since unexpectedly being transformed into a defensive midfielder by Slot during the summer, Gravenberch has started every Premier League game this season and has been substituted just five times.

For context, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are the only Liverpool players to have featured for more than Gravenberch's total of 2,140 minutes in the top flight.

And in the Premier League as a whole, Moises Caicedo of Chelsea and Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes are the only midfielders to have accrued greater action.

Incredibly, neither has started a Premier League this term while Elliott hasn't been brought off the bench any earlier than the 68th minute and Endo has only once been introduced earlier.

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And between them, youngster Tyler Morton, James McConnell and Trey Nyoni, while featuring in cup competitions, haven't played a single second in the top flight.

With the schedule at least easing up slightly in March, there will be time for a natural breather for Gravenberch.
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