Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been talking to the media earlier than Saturday’s Premier League sport towards at Anfield (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Listed below are the important thing strains from his information convention:
Excluding the long-term accidents to Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Alexander Isak, Slot says the remainder of his gamers ought to be match for Saturday.
Mohamed Salah is predicted to be out there from subsequent week when he comes again from the Africa Cup of Nations – with a possible return towards Marseille within the Champions League on Wednesday.
Slot added: “Mo has been so necessary to this membership so I am joyful he is again. Even when I had 15 attackers I might nonetheless be joyful that he is coming again. We’re in talks with him – what’s anticipated from him over there and what we anticipate over right here however initially he has an necessary sport on Saturday [third place play-off].”
On any motion within the January switch window: “I believe everyone seems to be aligned in regards to the challenges we’re dealing with, that is to not say we’re are going to behave however everyone seems to be aligned with what we’re dealing with.”
past this summer season when his contract expires however is contemplating different choices to be able to safe extra sport time. Slot stated: “I believe I’ve to provide him a giant praise in regards to the issues he stated. Very mature and I perceive all the pieces he is saying. Each participant ought to have a similar feeling about not beginning each sport however he additionally finds pleasure within the place and he understands how necessary he’s to this membership over all the years. His feedback within the media are a giant praise.”
Liverpool are unbeaten of their previous 11 matches with six wins and 5 attracts however Slot believes his workforce can nonetheless enhance, he stated: “Ideally 11 video games unbeaten is 11 wins in a row – that is what you are aiming for. That may be life like for some groups however from the place we have been after we conceded the fourth purpose towards PSV to the place we are actually, I believe we’re in a significantly better place. However there’s nonetheless sufficient room for enchancment however that was the identical final season after we have been prime of the Premier League and prime of the Champions League.”
Slot added: “Within the final 11 video games we have hardly conceded probabilities however within the interval earlier than that after we misplaced loads of video games, we created extra probabilities however conceded extra. Folks look again and say ‘please give us these open video games once more’ however outcomes weren’t what we needed. We’ve got to discover a steadiness and we’ll as a result of I can see the gamers rising and getting perception once more.”
On the race to Champions League qualification, Slot stated: “We have not put ourselves in essentially the most ideally suited place, particularly contemplating the place we have been after six video games, however the actuality is we’re competing with groups for the fourth place. Nonetheless rather a lot to play for for us within the league as a result of we all know how necessary it’s for this membership to qualify for the Champions League. It did not occur a number of years in the past and it had a huge impact financially on the membership. However that is not just for us, that is for lots of groups.”
On the 1-0 victory at Turf Moor again in September, he stated: “We had a number of probabilities earlier than we ultimately scored that penalty they usually made it actually exhausting for us that day they usually’ve made it actually exhausting for lots of different groups since then as nicely. We can be prepared and we’re wanting ahead it. One other sport the place we need to present we will do higher. I am hoping and ready for the second issues actually click on.”