Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Sunday’s Premier League game against Manchester United at Anfield (kick-off 16:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
- Ryan Gravenberch is “completely fit” and Ibrahima Konate is expected to train today.
- However, goalkeeper Alisson Becker has not yet returned to group training so “will not play this weekend or next week” against Brentford.
- Alexander Isak played twice for Sweden during the break and is “close to the fitness level he should be”. Slot said Liverpool can “judge him in a fair way from now on”.
- On the Reds form so far this season: “Results don’t lie, so if you lose three in a row then you have to do better. We have to react, but we have to give the same reaction if we win three times in a row. We need to do what we usually do but hope for that spark of one or two per cent more.”
- He broke down the key differences compared with last season: “We don’t create as many chances as we did [last term], but from open play we still create the most chances and have the most shots on target. We’ve conceded too many goals.”
- He said “there should always be a reaction” to three defeats, especially “when you wear a Liverpool shirt,” but he “cannot blame the players because they go all in” [for every game].
- On their defensive struggles: “From open play, we are conceding too may crosses, so that is one thing we have to address and do better. Teams are facing us differently to last season.”
- On facing Manchester United: “I look forward to every single Premier League game, but maybe even more towards this one because I know how special of a game it is. It’s the game being watched the most all over the world.”
- He said they “have to be at their best” because in his opinion United “have had a better start to the season than the league table is showing.”
Follow all of Friday’s Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day’s football news
Listen to live commentary of Liverpool v Manchester United on BBC Radio 5 Live from 16:30 on Sunday
