ReactionArne Slot press conference: Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle, Szoboszlai form, resilience and more

Goals in either half from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister at Anfield on Wednesday night sent the Reds 13 points clear.

Szoboszlai opened the scoring in the 11th minute and Mac Allister sealed the victory with a well-taken effort in front of the Kop midway through the second half.

Read on for a full transcript of Slot's post-match press conference…

• Read our match report from Anfield

On what impressed him most about the win...

What impressed me most was that this was our fifth game in 15 days and the four before weren't the most simple ones. So, Everton we all know how an emotional game that was for both teams but definitely for us as well and then Wolves and then two difficult away games with [Aston] Villa and [Manchester] City. To show up the way we did tonight, hardly conceding a chance against a very good team like Newcastle, is a big compliment for the players [in] how they handled these five games in 15 days.

On how he keeps his players 'fresh'...

I've explained it already a few times that that's the biggest reason why I didn't take these players to Plymouth Argyle because then they have to travel again, they are away from home, they might have to play 10, 15, 30, 45 minutes because I would definitely have used them if I would have taken them – and that means for them no rest. That's why I didn't take them to PSV Eindhoven as well because I believe in the fact that these players are able to play five games in 15 days like they show. But they can't do this for 10 months in a row, so they need to have, once in a while, a break. We are talking about a break if I'm talking about five, six days of not playing a game of football.

That's why I'm still a bit disappointed that we don't play on the weekend because, of course, Mo [Salah] wouldn't have played, of course Virgil [van Dijk] wouldn't have played but it would have been an ideal moment for the likes of Harvey Elliott, Jarell Quansah, Federico Chiesa and all the others to get some playing time as well to keep them ready for the end phase of the season. So, unfortunately we're out but that also means that the players have two days off now and then from Saturday onwards we fully focus on Paris Saint-Germain.

On whether the league title feels 'close' now...

I don't know because I don't think that way. I think about Paris Saint-Germain already. What you don't know but what I do know because I watched them against City, because we played City, and I'm impressed by the quality they have. I think they are in a similar run as we are – hardly lost any single game for a long time. Though I'm not always correct in data because two days ago my son told me that I made a big, big, big mistake by saying Cristiano Ronaldo never played in the Premier League! So, I'm not sure if Paris Saint-Germain has the same run as ours but they are doing really well. So, my main focus is on Paris Saint-Germain. I forget the league table now, I forget the Premier League now until the moment we've played Paris Saint-Germain and then I will start to think about the Premier League again.

On whether he feels Liverpool are getting stronger at a critical phase in the season...

I think what impressed me most was the mental strength in both games. Because after Everton, a bit [after] Wolves, maybe a bit after the Villa game, people started to question us a bit and normally when players or people get questions, you always see extra work-rate. That's quite normal and what I saw us doing against City. But if you get a lot, a lot, a lot of compliments, eight out of 10 people get a bit complacent – but only the ones that want to achieve something don't. That mentality of these two out of 10 I saw tonight because they just found an extra gear to work even harder. We weren't perfect – I think we lost more simple balls than we usually do – but the mentality was great again, as well as the squad performance.

On whether Paris Saint-Germain are a team 'to be feared'...

I don't think we fear teams. I don't think the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Real Madrid, these kind of clubs don't fear opponents. But we definitely respect them and there's a reason for that, and that's what you just said – that they won so many games in a row and they have so many quality players. I think it's going to be a very interesting game for everybody who loves football. I would be surprised if people who are neutral watch a different game than that one because I think everyone – including Paris Saint-Germain and us – are looking forward to the game.

On how satisfied he is with Szoboszlai's recent form...

[I'm] very pleased for him because he's the type of player that always looks for a teammate in a better position than him if he has a chance. That is also what you saw against Villa, when he played that ball square for Darwin [Nunez]. For him to be on the scoresheet now for a player that is as humble as he is when he gets a chance, but especially because of his unbelievable work-rate and what does for the team, he definitely deserves [it]. I think he was Man of the Match today, or at least he came in with the trophy so I assume he was. He deserves the credit he is getting at the moment. He already got my credit every single time he played for us, but probably he gets it now even more from the people who are judging players not only on work-rate but also goals and assists.

On how Liverpool's midfielders have improved...

I think they've improved, but if I would tell you they didn't improve, no-one improved, then I probably would give myself a lot of criticism. They have put so much work in and the team is playing so well together that these players did improve. If you wear the Liverpool shirt as a midfielder, you should score goals, maybe except for the No.6 but a 10 or an eight should provide goals as well if needed. Not always it has been needed and sometimes they provide the assist, but today we depended on goals from them as well and they showed up.

On watching the game from the stands due to his suspension and whether it was more or less stressful than being on the touchline...

A bit of both. Watching it in real time is less stressful, less emotional, let's put it that way, because you don't feel the emotions or energy of the players, you have a better overview. The downside is that you can see replays as well and, as you know from the reason why I was suspended, I can get emotional about certain decisions! That is sometimes then a disadvantage, that you can see the replays, but OK. [It was a] great team performance.

On his appreciation for Wataru Endo after another impressive showing from the bench...

I appreciate him a lot as a football player but also as a human being because no matter how many minutes the team needs him [for], he always shows up. The reason why he always shows up – and that is what makes him special, and I've said it a few times before – is players, and I have worked with many that were in a similar situation like him, don't always find the energy to train well the day after a game when they didn't have playing time or two days after a game, but it doesn't matter which day of the week it is or if he has played, he always gives his best in every training session and, as a result of that, every time the team needs him he shows up. That's a big compliment for him, that he brings performances in like he did today.