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Maybe slips free, is loved to extremes in a way (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

fielders

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'maybe slips free is loved to extremes in a way' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'free is loved to extremes in a way' is the wordplay.
'to extremes' means to remove the middle letters.
'in a way' indicates an anagram.
'loved' with its middle removed is 'ld'.
'free'+'is'+'ld'='freeisld'
'freeisld' is an anagram of 'FIELDERS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for fielders that I've seen before include "team players" , "Defilers playing on the cricket pitch, not batsmen" , "Members of the side not batting in cricket" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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