Liverpool head coach Arne Slot faced the media on Friday ahead of his side's Premier League return against Nottingham Forest this weekend, where the Dutchman discussed a multitude of issues
Arne Slot has spoken as Liverpool prepare to return to action
Arne Slot has spoken as Liverpool prepare to return to action
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Everything you need to know from Arne Slot's pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest, as he discussed injuries, transfers, Diogo Jota and World Cup heartbreak...
1. Transfer speculation firmly dismissed: Arne Slot was clear in shutting down speculation regarding potential January signings, particularly concerning a new centre-back, stating that it is the "last thing that's on my mind". He emphasised his focus is entirely on the demanding schedule of matches before the winter break, not on future transfer windows. He noted Liverpool currently have only three available centre-backs, including Joe Gomez, and suggested other areas of the squad might present a more immediate issue than the defensive line.
2. Alisson's return and new injury concerns: Slot delivered an update on goalkeeper Alisson Becker, confirming the Brazilian has trained well this week and is set to return against Nottingham Forest. However, there is also a double injury blow following the international break, with both Florian Wirtz and Conor Bradley ruled out of contention. He also offered an update on Andy Robertson, clarifying that the full-back missed one session for private reasons but is expected to rejoin the squad and be available for selection.
3. Strict focus on the next fixture: The Liverpool boss reiterated his message that the team is not currently focusing on the Premier League title race or the need to be "perfect" at this stage of the competition. Slot maintained that the only objective for the squad is to win the next game on the schedule, a mentality he emphasised previously this season and during last term's title-winning campaign. He added that the most accurate way to assess the true nature of the league table is after all 38 matches, or, as a secondary measure, at the halfway point of 19 games.
4. Slot discusses the loss of Diogo Jota: Slot spoke about how his team continue to deal with the loss of Diogo Jota, emphasising that the team misses the forward immensely, recognising him as both an exceptional player and a valued person in the squad. He specifically recalled Jota's match-winning impact, referencing the crucial equaliser against Forest last season, a goal-scoring impact the team, he believes, is struggling to replace. Slot added that while the club misses him, Jota's wife and children miss him "so, so, so much more," and insists the team would never use the difficult situation as an excuse for results.
5. Acknowledged the trend of conceding first: Slot addressed a pattern that has concerned supporters, with Liverpool frequently going 1-0 down in matches. While he admitted he could not provide a clear explanation for this recurring issue, he did emphasise the profound, game-altering impact that the first goal has on the flow and psychology of a fixture. He cited the recent match against Manchester City as a prime example, noting how a disallowed goal followed almost immediately by a concession magnified the difficulty of the game.
6. Slot offers support to Dominik Szoboszlai after World Cup heartbreak: Slot confirmed he had a personal conversation with Dominik Szoboszlai to support him following the heartbreak of Hungary's dramatic failure to qualify for the World Cup. Slot acknowledged the immense disappointment his player was feeling. But Slot expressed his confidence in the player, stating that he does not expect the disappointment to negatively impact his performances for Liverpool moving forward.