ReactionArne Slot press conference: Pre-season review, squad readiness and Anfield reception

The Reds defeated Sevilla 4-1 in the first game of a double-header, with Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz (two) and Trey Nyoni scoring in front of almost 60,000 fans.

An entirely different line-up then played out a goalless draw with another La Liga outfit, Las Palmas, in a match contested behind closed doors.

After the games, Slot spoke to the media at a press conference, discussing his overall thoughts on pre-season, the status of Liverpool’s squad and the experience of Anfield as head coach for the first time.

Read a summary below…

• Arne Slot update on Fabio Carvalho future

On whether the squad is where he wants it to be fitness-wise…

No, ideally we would have had them from the start, all of them. Then, players like Virgil [van Dijk] and all the others that went off after 60, 70 minutes could have played the whole game. But I am pleased, if you look at the situation. These players had to go to a holiday, a lot of them came back really strong. And the ones I had from the start stayed fit for all the time. Yeah, pleased with the fitness level the team has, and also without injuries at the moment, and that is an important thing in pre-season.

On an important week ahead to train ahead of the Premier League start…

Yeah, but not only an important week, an important year to come. We have to improve day by day. I think we saw today in both games a lot of good things but I can make a big list also of things we have to improve, which is completely normal. Some of them with the certain new ideas we have, have only been [working] with this for a week so they have to adjust to that, they have to adjust to each other maybe with these some new ideas. So it’s normal that we are far from perfect, but even being far from perfect we can score four, so that’s a good start.

On his first experience of Anfield as Liverpool head coach…

That’s always nice, no matter which team you lead. Always if you play a home game it’s always nice. If you lead a team with 15,000 fans it’s nice; if you lead a team with 50,000 it’s even nicer; and if you lead a team that has 60,000 fans that are also constantly behind the team, similar to my former club at Feyenoord, those are always games to look forward to, and I got a taste of it today.

On the prospect of the Reds strengthening the squad in the transfer window…

I think as a club like we are, we are always looking if we can strengthen the squad. But it’s not so easy to strengthen the squad if you see both games today. I’ve said many times before that I’ve inherited a really strong team and if we can and if we think it’s possible, we will strengthen the squad. But only if we think we can and if it’s possible.

On Sepp van den Berg not getting any minutes on Sunday…

That’s load management, the way we call it. And, of course, a player like Nat [Phillips], who is training with us for a long time, deserved to have some playing time as well. So, it’s a combination of a player who has already made a lot of minutes and we don’t want to take the risk of him getting injured – as we don’t want with anyone, but with him we thought it was best for him not to start today. That had all to do with load management – and that Nat also deserved to play today.

• Watch highlights of both matches on LFCTV GO here

On whether he now has a ‘better idea’ of who will play in the No.6 role…

Sometimes that also had to do with the players we had available, the ones I’ve tried there. I think we’ve seen mostly Wata Endo there or Ryan [Gravenberch]. And in a previous game even Dominik [Szoboszlai] was a bit lower. But I have quite a good idea which player suits there, at this moment in my opinion, best. But like I said, we are only one week working together with some players. So, sometimes you feel, ‘Oh, this is the best No.6’ but then the combination with the other two might maybe not work out that well. It’s not to say that the ones who played today will play next week or the weeks after. We are still in a situation where we are constantly evaluating which is the best team for us, which is the best line-up. And today you saw this but it’s not to say that it’s the same next week.

On the feeling of hearing the home fans singing his name, and the welcome he has had from Liverpool…

Only positives. What you hear is that they sing my name, but when I’m in the city or I have stayed for a while in the [hotel], those people and also the ones at AXA have been really nice to me. But it’s mostly like this if you become a head coach! People are always nice to you, especially if you haven’t lost yet! Although we did lose once, against Preston. So that helps. In general, I think people have been nice to me and have given me a warm welcome. Not only me, also the rest of my staff as well.