Match'No difference today' - read Arne Slot's Brighton programme notes

The Reds booked a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals by defeating the Seagulls 3-2 away from home on Wednesday night.

Fewer than 72 hours later, the teams clash again, this time in a 3pm GMT kick-off at Anfield in the Premier League.

In his matchday programme notes, head coach Slot explains why the game in midweek should not, and cannot, have a bearing on today’s encounter.

“Of course, it is only a few days since our teams last met so there has not been too much time to digest the outcome, but the reality is that no matter how that game would have turned out we would know that today’s game would be another really tough one,” writes the Dutchman.

“For the long term, on Wednesday night I really liked what I saw from the players who haven’t played that much this season yet, that they were able to play a similar style that we usually do and they brought quality into the game. That makes it even harder for me to make line-ups in the upcoming weeks but this is also something that I want.

“The fact that we won will not make a difference today, though. What we earned in that tie was a place in the next round of the Carabao Cup and that is very welcome, but it does not bring us any advantages in this fixture. If we are to win again we will have to perform really well again. We recognise the challenge that our opponents will bring and this means there will be no shortcuts.

“In recent seasons, Brighton have earned themselves a reputation for being an exciting, up-and-coming team but I would say that they have now moved onto another level again having established themselves as a top-level Premier League side. The fact that they go into this game in sixth place having achieved some really good results already this season only underlines this.

“I would like to welcome Fabian Hurzeler, his players and staff and everyone associated with the club to Anfield having had the courtesy of a similar welcome at the Amex Stadium in midweek. I said in the build-up to that game that I really like Brighton’s playing style and this feeling has not changed in any way since then. If anything, it has become even stronger.

“Like us, they are a club with a clear sense of identity and a lot of ambition. So we cannot say that we do not know what to expect today. We know them and they know us. The difference this time, of course, is that the game takes place at Anfield in front of our fans and this is a significant change which will hopefully help us as we continue making our way through a testing period with lots of fixtures in a short space of time.

“I have been asked on a few occasions during this spell if I am learning new things about the players, but the truth is that I am learning new things all the time. This is normal after only a few months at a new club because it takes time to see everyone in various situations, but the big conclusion so far is that I could not be more pleased with the way the players are committing and adapting to a new way of working.

“There is still much that we can and will improve. We are as aware as anyone that we are still a work in progress – as should be expected at this stage – but while this process is taking place we have also been able to pick up some really positive results, both at home and in Europe, which are giving us a platform to build from.

“The victory on Wednesday night was another good example of what I am talking about. Yes, there were elements of our game that we will need to be better at going forward but there were also parts of our performance that were very pleasing and this was why we were able to get the win.

“Today I would like to see more of the same but with certain improvements. That is how we will continue to take the kind of steps forward that we are looking for. As always, though, we will look to take these steps together.”

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