Arne Slot Press Conference: Brighton (H)
by Steven Northover
Arne Slot took to media duties this morning, with the Reds in action tomorrow in the FA Cup 4th Round tie against Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield.
Right Back Rotations
Credit: Liverpool.com
Whilst a full prognosis is still to be assertained, it looks likely that Wataru Endo the rest of the season following his injury against Sunderland at the weekend.
It further restricts squad choices for Arne Slot, with no fit Right Back available, the Dutch coach was already forced to use temporary replacements such as Dominik Szoboszlai. But with the Hungarian, and the team, better suited to a more advanced role, it seems likely that more experimentation is likely to come.
On Endo injury, and it's impact, Slot said:
"Don't forget that he is a good centre-back and a good midfielder as well. If you look at the number six and two centre-back positions, we are quite vulnerable in there as well, if something happens.
So let's try to make sure the players we have stay fit now.”
Credit: Liverpool FC
A Chance to Recharge?
With the season entering the business end of proceedings, and Liverpool's focus on qualification for next season's Champion's League, the FA Cup is likely the sides best chance to rest and rotate some of its most overworked players this season.
So far, Slot appeared unwilling to play his ‘understudies’ at times this season - arguably to the detriment of performances - but that seems likely to change, at least in the short term, at least.
Credit: Liverpool.com
"I am always looking at them because today they trained again, all of them. But seriously, a few of them come closer and closer to first-team football and a few of them already had it with Rio [Ngumoah] and Trey [Nyoni]"
He went on to say; "Games like this could be an option for them as well but it's finding the right balance because we do play a very strong team in Brighton. Finding the right balance in who to play is something we are going to think about even more.”
Set-Pieces and Virgil's Importance
A major weakness for Liverpool this season has been at conceding from set pieces, and conversely being unable to convert their own. Liverpool have only scored seven goals from set pieces in all competitions this season - only Wolves have scored fewer.
"It is actually impossible to win the league if you have a set-piece balance like ours. You have to have plus five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, no matter what you do in open play, to have a chance to win the league.”
Credit: Liverpool FC
Performances have improved since the turn of the year - with both Szoboszlai and Van Dijk scoring in consecutive games this week.
Arne Slot made special mention of the captain, "It's vital that he has already scored a few goals for us this season and definitely last season as
well from set pieces. He's a big threat in the air offensively and defensively he's important for us not to concede. So yes, [he's] vital and I hope he will score many more for us in set pieces this season.”