Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been talking to the media earlier than Wednesday’s Premier League recreation towards on the Stadium of Gentle (kick-off 20:15 GMT).
Listed here are the important thing strains from his information convention:
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On how he’ll be judged in the summertime: “If we do not have Champions League soccer, it is not been an appropriate season.”
Slot acknowledged the monetary impression of qualification, noting how Federico Chiesa was the one signing attainable throughout his first window as a result of the earlier season they have been competing within the Europa League.
Amid small margins, Liverpool must be “near perfection” to qualify for the Champions League.
Slot was “disillusioned” by Dominik Szoboszlai’s purple card towards “That is not what we like if we love soccer, however he adopted the rulebook and the referees are there to comply with the rulebook.”
He’s anticipating defender Joe Gomez, who’s a possible possibility at right-back, to coach on Tuesday, however stated: “If he is not prepared to start out, then we’re lacking 4 gamers in that place.”
On conceding late targets: “The late targets in additional time is excess of typical – is that unhealthy luck or us? That’s one thing we will discover out within the subsequent three to 4 months.”
Slot in contrast how Liverpool carried out towards Metropolis with their show within the reverse fixture, when “we hardly touched the ball”. He attributed this to his gamers not beginning the season able to compete each three video games, although they’re now at an appropriate degree of depth.
He refuted options that Alisson’s passing accuracy has bought worse: “I’ve seen the identical goalkeeper this yr as final yr. The principle factor for a goalkeeper continues to be shot-stopping, by the way in which, and he does that actually nicely.”
On defending his gamers’ mentality: “Attracts really feel like a loss at this membership. It is not straightforward for the gamers as a result of they know what the requirements of Liverpool imply and they don’t seem to be performing to these requirements in the mean time.”
Slot says this has been his most troublesome season “by a mile”, noting that he has not misplaced two video games in a row in earlier seasons.
On how he adapts to the problem: “No-one on this constructing would say I’ve utterly modified, however it’s totally different subsequent to different seasons the place we at all times did one thing particular. There’s nonetheless a risk that we will do one thing particular this season as nicely.”
On Sunderland: “It is positively an accomplishment if you’re promoted and accomplish that nicely. That could be a massive praise to their gamers and supervisor.”
[BBC]