Arne Slot Press Conference: Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)

by Steven Northover

Arne Slot held his last press conference before Christmas, ahead of Liverpool’s last game of 2025 at home against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Rampant Injuries - Isak Latest & More

Credit: Football365

As the busy Festive period comes, the Dutchman is faced with a mounting injury crisis, with a number of players facing time on the sidelines.

Wataro Endo, Joe Gomez, and Connor Bradley are currently side-lined, along with Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak, all join Giovanni Leoni in the Axa Treatment Room.

It was Isak’s injury, and the the tackle that lead to it, that drew the most ire from Slot, with the manager currently on a six game unbeaten run, said:

Credit: Liverpool.com

"I've said a lot about the the tackle of Xavi Simons, which for me was completely unintentional. I don't think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that."

"The tackle of Van de Ven - if you make that tackle 10 times - I think 10 times there is a serious chance that a player gets a serious injury.”

There is some good news, however, with the Swede likely to be out for around two months, and not the season ending injury that was feared at the end of Liverpool's win against Tottenham. Meanwhile, Jeremie Frimpong appears to be back to full fitness, after making a cameo appearance in London, and given that lack of alternatives at RB, the Dutchman is almost guaranteed a start against the Premier League’s basement club.

Elsewhere, Florian Wirtz was pronounced fit after coming off last time out with cramp. With the squad becoming threadbare, Slot used the opportunity to throw down the gauntlet to the likes of Hugo Ekitike, especially as he is now Liverpool's only fit recognised striker.

"He still needs to get stronger. But he's already become stronger. He is fast. He can score goals. He has great footwork and dribbling work. He has plenty in his locker." 

"He has already adapted to the Premier League. The biggest he can do is to make sure he can become physically outstanding. That's where he is working on very hard. Same with him, he was very, very tired in the last few minutes of the Tottenham game.

"I see this more often but that might be because they hardly have any rest because we don't have so many chances to rotate and they fight every single time.”

Credit: Goal.com

Looking ahead to Wolves

Given Wolves trails this season, and Liverpool’s apparent return to form, it is tempting to see the match as a certain win for the league champions, however Slot struck a cautionary tone,

Credit: Liverpool FC

"The results throughout the whole season haven't been what they were hoping for. But they have come closer and closer to results. They were very close to a result at Arsenal. As always, there is a challenge in every Premier League games and it's the same in this one.”

Harvey Elliott Latest

Credit: GiveMeSport

Finally, Slot would not be drawn on the future on loan midfielder Harvey Elliott, currently at high-flying Aston Villa. Amid conversations around the club's obligation to buy the 22-year-old, Elliot has yet to make any sort of mark in Birmingham, with only three starts in all competitions this season - despite winning the under-21 European Championship last season with England, a competition he was also named as best player.

"No, Harvey is an Aston Villa player and he is supposed to be going there for a year. If the question is about him, the best thing to ask is at Villa, who are doing quite well by the way.”