Welcome to our live coverage of Arne Slot’s press conference from the AXA Training Centre to preview his Liverpool side’s big match at home to Manchester United on Sunday. The Reds head coach will be with us from 9am.
It will be the first time supporters will have heard from Slot since Liverpool went down 2-1 at Chelsea two weeks ago. The defeat ensured the defending champions missed the chance to move back to the top of the Premier League and ensured they went into the international break on the back of three straight defeats.
No doubt, then, that the Dutchmen will be asked about what is the poorest run of his short but highly successful Reds reign.
Slot will also be quizzed on the fitness of goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who missed the loss at Chelsea after coming off injured in the Champions League reverse at Galatasaray.
The international break has also brought injury concerns for defender Ibrahima Konate and midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo. So expect an update on that trio and the challenge of facing bitter rivals United.
Paul Gorst and Ian Doyle will bring you live updates from the press conference.
Slot on balance/Salah position
Both Flo and Dom attacking midfielders but they are expected to defend. In this case, I saw Cucurella’s comments onb Salah but I show you 5 or 6 moments where Mo could have made the difference, so that would be a different conversation. Always the balance between winger and full-back that is quite…I want ours to attack as well we have to find the right balance. We concede too many crosses, I am aware of that and we have to do better.”
Slot on next three weeks, seven games
Interesting one…we need to bring some players towards playing time but you cannot do none to 3 in a week, so we had a few of them that led to changes in the team. Every team has to face schedules like this so we have more than 11 players. If we rotate you have to play more with the same players. Almost impossible to play players in the same position every game, as has happened with some players. You have to find the balance, the ones we have have been together for longer. We have Alex and Hugo as 9s, who both know what to do in our system. I like I have more than 11 to play games.”
Slot on Mac Allister
I haven’t seen his interview but did he mean the quality of play or amount of minutes? He missed a lot of games, we expected him back for pre-season which he wasn’t and that led to the fact he couldn’t play 3 in a row, so he was in and out and that is never ideal for a player. Like all the others he is a player that has experienced so much in his career he will be back at the level he and I want from now on.”
Slot on 3-game losing run
These players might need me but I don’t think they do to tell them what has happened. we have lost 3 by very close margins. Twice in last minute, one was penalty, we should have overturned it on VAR. We should not depend on the margins, Chelsea away is normal it is an equal game, part of it, but results don’t lie. If you lose 3 in a row you have to do better. These players don’t wake up at night with it but we hve to be aware of it and give a reaction. We have to create habits if we win or lose but after 3 losses you hope for a spark or one or two percent more from us and our fans on Sunday.
“I assume everyone is talking about the run now, I don’t know. It’s just the situation as it is. Better to haver the next game again rather than talk about it for 2 weeks. What I like about top players you don’t notice anything if they win 3 or lose, they just prepare themselves in the same time the same way, outside world is focused on results and us as well, we don’t deny them here – we need to do better. Ten games have been equal and we are trying to work every day to make the gap bigger.”
Slot on Isak
He has had five or six weeks of pre-season which is normal. Fitness wise he is close to the level and we can judge in a fair way from now on. I know how this industry works, if he plays twice and doesn’t score, that’s not what you want. But he didn’t and I think his pre-season has maybe finished now, he has played a few games, 70-80 mins. So let’s see where he is”
Slot
If you are the team who have created most chances then you can say that we surprise teams, but it’s also clear we haven’t created as many chances as last season. We need to not concede goals. One way to win a game to score 1 or 2 but if the other team scores we need 2 or 3. Sometimes we get it from a special moment from front three or set pieces. Not many special moments, acts of brilliance, this season or set piece goals. We are still one point behind Arsenal but it is clear that conceded four set piece goals is too much for a team that wants to compete.”
Slot on Man Utd
I look forward even more to Man Utd, I know how special of a game it is. The most watched all over the world, so special to be a part of it, we have to be at our best. United had a better start than table is showing, so very interesting game, especially as it’s at Anfield. The fans have always been supportive. A team that lost 3 in a row, we need to be ready but the fans need to and will help us.”
Slot on Salah form
I think it should not matter who we play on Sunday. If you’ve lost 3 in a row and you wear the LFC shirt you have to react. The players give it all every game first to last minute, in three games we had to come back from a goal down, did it twice but we lost. There should always be a reaction, not only from Mo but all.
Slot on what needs to change
I think what we can say is if we compare to last season, we don’t create as many chances but the most xG, chances and shots on target but we’ve conceded too many goals. Nine goals and four from set pieces, not a reflection of chances we’ve conceded. Other five were teo fast breaks, three from open play. Conceding too many crosses, we have to address that and do better. Like Virgil says, I think he means this that teams are facing us differently. That is also what I have said, long balls compared to last season, already one third of the way through compared to last season after 7 games. We have to find answers.”
Slot on injuries
Ryan is compleyely fit, still has to train but fit, we are in a good place with the Dutch side.
Ibou has come to back to us and is expected to train today.
Alisson is not training so he is out. How long out? Difficult to say as the end phase of rehab always gives you positives and negatives but not the weekend or next week.