Read every word from the broadcast section of Iraola’s press conference here.
Sky Sports News: Could we start with the latest team news and fitness updates.
Andoni Iraola: The team will be I think very similar no to the one we had against Brighton. We lose Tav with the injury that you know and the only one from the players that were injured who could have a chance is Enes. Enes wants to try today to train but I'm not sure if he's going to be available or not. But is the only one that I think could have a chance.
SSN: In terms of the injury to Marcus, what is it and how long do you think he'll be out for?
AI: It's a hamstring injury. Straight away he felt it, it is not the biggest of the injuries but it's a muscle injury and we'll see how it evolves. But he will be out for some time.
SSN: Good news with the new signing coming in this week. How has Alex Toth been and is he available tomorrow?
AI: Yes, he's definitely available. Probably in other situations we will allow him a little bit more time to train, to explain more things but in the situation that we find ourselves right now, he has to be ready. He has to be ready because definitely we will need him and he looks like a very nice boy. I feel like he has come with the hunger of showing his level and I hope he helps us as soon as possible. Sometimes it's difficult straight away you make the move one, two trainings and sometimes it's a little bit too rushed. But he will be available for tomorrow and for sure ready to help us.
SSN: Sounds like he's made quite the impact on you already. Is there a chance he could actually start the game?
AI: Yes, I think he comes in a good physical condition and he's available and he's ready for whatever we consider. Obviously he has been here just one or two days so it’s difficult for him to understand everything we want to do, but we will not have time for tomorrow, even for tomorrow to explain him everything and sometimes in these situations, no, you have to just see what he has and I hope no he does well.
SSN: In terms of finding an Antoine Semenyo replacement. Have you had any developments on that this week? Obviously we reported earlier in the week that a fee in principle being agreed for Rayan.
AI: No, Alex is the only signing we've made for this weekend. Obviously the club is working on other signings. We know that we need more players, but there is nothing. And right now we have the addition of Alex. That is nice for us and for sure will be a good help. But with other signings we will have to wait.
SSN: But in terms of Rayan, obviously he's a player of interest to you at the moment.
AI: I always say the same. He's a player that is not ours. So I cannot talk a lot about players that are not ours. You know, we have interest in a lot of players from different clubs and we will have to wait and see the signings we can make.
SSN: You said after the draw with Brighton that the squad was thin on the ground. You did want more players. How's it been this week at the club?
AI: I think it's very similar. I think everyone understands, our situation is very delicate. We are very thin. Especially with Tav’s injury in the offensive positions, in the wingers. Especially without Brooksy, Antoine, Justin, Tavernier. Basically they are the four players that have covered these three positions behind the striker during the first half of the season. So now we need, we've seen Amine and we’ve see Junior Kroupi, players that are participating more. But we need more because at the end we need also the subs to give us this energy in the second half. And right now it’s difficult because we don’t have the numbers.
SSN: One win in 14 in all competitions. Obviously doesn't sound very good. But I'm sure you're doing as much as you can to turn that around. But that stat is growing. So what are you doing?
AI: No, we are coming from very good games. From very good games, I think. We have Brighton away, Spurs at home. Last two league games, four points. The FA Cup game against Newcastle away. One of our best games, I would say. Even the games before, Arsenal, Chelsea. I think they were really good. I think we last this past month has been really good for us. Really good. But it's true that if you consider the games in December especially it doesn't look so good. But I'm really pleased from what I'm seeing from the team, I repeat, in a very, very difficult situation for us.
SSN: What have you made of Liverpool so far this season and are you looking forward to welcoming Milos back?
AI: Yes. I think probably unluckily for us we are going to face the best Liverpool of the season. They are coming. I think it's 13 games without a loss. The other day against Marseille they won 3-0 but they could even have won easier. They were so, so good. And I expect the best Liverpool because they are playing for me very well. They had this period months ago where they had these losses. That probably affects the overall picture of the season. But for me right now, if not the best is one of the best teams. Even the game against Arsenal, probably they were even better. Like I said unluckily for me I expect the best Liverpool of the season because they are playing very well.
Paul Belverstone (Premier League Productions): The mention of Milos there, he had a stuttering start. How impressed have you been with the analysis you've done into what he's done over the past couple of months?
AI: I think he has been growing a lot. Last games I think he has been phenomenal. The other day I saw him with confidence, pushing forward, very good defensively and sometimes when you sign for one of these big clubs you need this period of adaptation and I think the more time he plays, the more games he starts, the better Milos we will see like we are seeing in the last games. I think now he's with the same confidence probably that he was here with us. And I'm sure he will be a very good signing for Liverpool and he's also a great guy, full of energy. We miss him a lot. Not just in the footballing side, just personally he gives a lot of energy to the dressing room and I'm sure he will be very good for Liverpool.
PB: Liverpool played with a slightly different formation against Marseille. Does that give you an extra headache, you're not quite sure what you'll be up against?
AI: It's not just against Marseille. I think they've been changing their tactics a little bit. Especially with moments without Salah, moments without Gakpo. They've been playing like more players in the middle, leaving one of the sides kind of free and putting a lot of midfielders helping in the build up so they can push a little bit more the full backs normally two up front they've been playing sometimes one side, sometimes the other and they are doing really well. I think they are playing really well. So not exactly the same thing they did against Marseille, but I think they will do something similar because it's working for them.
PB: With your players with just a little bit more on injuries. Is there an update on David Brooks? How long do you think he'll be out for?
AI: Brooks is not ready for this one. He's not ready for this one. I hope he's not out for a lot more time but when it’s the ankle it’s a matter of managing the pain and he will tell us whenever he feels comfortable, he will be again with us. It's true that now in the position we have that we basically just have Amine Adli outside. We want to have him available, we want to have all the wingers we can, but not for this one.
PB: Talking of managing pain, how did Ryan Christie's knee hold up for 20 minutes?
AI: No, Ryan is doing well. I think he finished well the other day against Brighton, played 20 minutes straight, normal from that game. So he's available and ready to go and I hope I've seen him in the best place that he has been in a lot of time. So I hope he can even improve more and keep him there until the end of the season.
PB: Amine came off with cramp against Brighton. Alex Jimenez, one of the players who looked thoroughly exhausted by the end. With everything, with all the injuries and everything that's coming out of the players. Have you had to amend the intensity of training this week at all?
AI: Yeah, it has been a really short week of training because we played Monday. So yes, now it's about recovering well, especially the players that played almost all the game like the ones, especially the ones who play outside because the energy level required to play outside is different. And Amine, Alex, Adri, Tav, unluckily for us he’s going to be out, but those ones, I think we need them full of energy again and I think they are fine.
PB: And you've already talked about Alex Toth coming in, but can you give us an insight into his sort of his first training session, did he, you know, he's a young man, new country. Did he start quietly or did he come in with big noise and make an impression straight away?
AI: No, I think he looks like a very nice guy. No, I think he's trying to take every information we are giving him personally and collectively and he comes from a different league, different rhythm, but also plays for a big club there. So he's used to some pressure, even being young and also with the national team and I hope we can help him in this, in this adaptation. But I've seen him ready to go and also full of energy. I think he's a player that there in the middle, he can cover also different positions. So it's for me a good help for us.
PB: How exciting a prospect is he for the near- and long-term future?
AI: I think obviously when you sign a player that is 20, you are signing him for now, but also for the future. I think it's a great step also in his career. We have to know with every signing, especially coming from abroad he will need some time to adapt like everyone else. But he speaks the language. I think this helps a lot of the players to integrate quicker because he was already chatting and even off the pitch and with his teammates. And I think his integration will be quick because I feel like he's really eager to receive everything and to help and to push since the start just.
PB: Because of what's happened to you in the last two league games, have you concentrated on defending against ridiculous, spectacular overhead kicks this week?
AI: Yeah, you never know what's going to happen. I hope after two in a row, it would be a big record if someone scored a third one. I don't know if it's happened before, but we have to be ready for everything. I was very, very pleased how we defended the other day. Very pleased because I think the second half is the half of the season where we played lower, I would say. And we didn't concede until the stoppage time. No, it was just one point. And I was frustrated because I think we deserved to finish it with a clean sheet and even a better reward. But I think we have to be ready again because Liverpool is the team with more possession in the league. Sometimes we speak about other clubs, but Liverpool has been the team with more time on the ball. So it's very possible we'll have to be again defending compact and under pressure during some phases of the game. And I hope we can be solid again defensively.
Balázs Gyenge (Hungarian press): So I would like to continue on the questions about Alex Toth. So when did you first notice him and what made you feel he would fit in your team?
AI: Yeah, I think Alex has been a player that the club has been following not just now in the market, we've started searching for him. I think there was word coming, especially since the summer and the club has thought that it was the perfect moment for him. I think as I said before, a very young player. But playing for Ferencváros, he has pressure there. Playing European competitions, that is always important and a good place to develop as a player. And we have to continue this progression that he is having. The character references were really good also and we've seen this since the beginning and I hope he also does well.
BG: Okay. And how difficult was to bring him from Ferencváros regarding that other big European clubs are also involved in the race.
AI: I don't know how difficult has been the negotiations. I haven't been part of it is the signing we've agreed to do until now and I'm very happy with his signing.
BG: Right. And in which positions or situations on the pitch do you think he will fit the best?
AI: I think he can play, we normally play with three players in the middle, sometimes two, sometimes three. But in any of the three positions, probably, ideally he's a number eight. We consider, I call six, eight, ten, he's more a number eight. But when you are a number eight, you have to sometimes defend as a six and attack as a number ten. So I think he is ready to adapt to any of the three positions. But obviously once we have the player, we see him playing, we see him training, probably we will find his or we will try at least to find his best position.
BG: And regarding the mental side, he's a young player, so how important is that for making a move to him? Because this is a huge step in his career. Regarding that he played in the Hungarian league and now he plays for a good team, but in the very best league in the world.
AI: Yes undoubtably it’s a big, big step for him, changing the Hungarian league for the Premier League. But I think we are a club that we are not afraid of helping players in this process. And he has also good examples in the dressing room, good examples that we've sold before. And I think he's a player where we've seen this potential and we have to help him in this development process, sometimes accepting mistakes because he will make mistakes, considering that he's very young. But also we know that in this process he will give us a lot of things and we have big hopes with him, obviously.