Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been talking to the media earlier than Sunday’s Premier League recreation in opposition to at Anfield (kick-off 16:30 GMT).
Listed here are the important thing strains from his information convention:
Slot was not “100% certain” on goalkeeper Alisson’s health and talent to coach with the staff on Friday, however confirmed the difficulty is “minor” and is hopeful he will likely be again both for Sunday or Wednesday’s return leg in opposition to Galatasaray within the Champions League. He additionally confirmed Federico Chiesa needs to be nicely sufficient to coach and be obtainable, whereas Alexander Isak stays with the rehab staff.
The Reds boss stated there’s a “huge distinction between the place we at the moment are and the place we have been then” as they face Spurs nearly a 12 months on from the corresponding fixture final season after they confirmed themselves as champions, however they “have a degree to show” after two defeats and enjoying in entrance of their very own followers “is one thing we are going to at all times discover particular”.
On setting the bar excessive final marketing campaign: “The bar is at all times excessive at Liverpool. We’re a high membership and the bar needs to be set excessive by these round us, however we may also set the bar excessive. Final season, we achieved one in every of issues we needed to attain and have been near successful the League Cup too. This 12 months, we’re unable to win the league once more however we’re nonetheless in two cups the place we’re competing.”
Requested whether or not the type of relegation-threatened Spurs and enjoying at Anfield – the place they might get their 1,five hundredth dwelling league win – will increase expectation, Slot responded: “If Tottenham have been first within the league in the meanwhile, everybody would anticipate us to win. Each recreation this membership performs at dwelling we’re anticipated to win. Nothing to do with type, the place they’re in league or the standard they’ve. Expectation comes from historical past… irrespective of who we face, expectations are sky excessive.”
Slot agreed Liverpool “did not play our greatest recreation of the season” in opposition to Galatasaray and it was one other instance of them having “struggled to transform probabilities” alongside their “unhealthy cocktail” of conceding from few probabilities. He added: “If so, then video games are troublesome [to win]”.
Rio Ngumoha has needed to be “handled fastidiously” this season due to his age, however he’s “positively an choice to start out” one in every of their upcoming three video games as you “want greater than 11 gamers with this schedule”.
On Ryan Gravenberch’s new contract: “It is apparent and clear that the membership and I see the significance of him and the way a lot he has developed. On account of that, he has signed a brand new contract. He is one other participant who was signed very younger and has the power to develop.”
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[BBC]