Arne Slot reflects on Liverpool learning curve

Arne Slot has expressed that he is gaining valuable insights into his Liverpool squad on a daily basis as he strategizes for a comprehensive trophy challenge in his debut season at the helm.

The Reds, who face Brighton & Hove Albion at home on Nov 2, are just a point behind English Premier League leaders Manchester City (23).

Slot’s men have made a flying start in the Champions League and are through to the League Cup quarter-finals after clinching a 3-2 win at Brighton in midweek.

Overall they have won 12 of their 14 games in all competitions, with a solitary defeat.

Slot, who replaced Jurgen Klopp in the Liverpool hot seat, was asked at his pre-match press conference on Nov 1 what he had learnt about his squad’s abilities to compete for the four trophies – including the FA Cup – on offer.

“You learn every day, especially if you are not as long with the team as I am,” the Dutchman said.

“Then you learn every day from new situations, and as I said before, the Chelsea game (a 2-1 win) was something I learnt from them, that they could sit deep and defend the lead.

“The way they came back against Arsenal (a 2-2 draw) was really strong, and the amount of games we have to play and that they are still able to be available and play good football, that is also something you see.”

Slot also said that his fringe players had shown the impact they could have during the win against Brighton in the fourth round of the League Cup.

“We will need them during the whole season,” he said. “So it’s good to see that they are already on a level they need to play for us.”

Slot believes that the League Cup, in which Liverpool are defending champions, was important to him even though he made multiple changes.

“Because we’ve played so many games, it was a good moment for the other ones to play, because at that moment I felt they were better able to win that game for us than the ones that have already played so many games,” he said.

“Now we’ve won it and you probably tell me, ‘Yeah, you put a lot of emphasis on this Cup’. If we would have lost it you would have said, ‘Yeah, if you miss out on so many starters it’s a logical result’.

“But we want to win every game, we want to compete for every trophy, especially if it’s one we have to defend, and that is with the Carabao (League) Cup. And the FA Cup is coming in January, so let’s think about it then. But people already told me that it’s a very important Cup to win.”

On the injury front, he said that goalkeeper Alisson Becker, new signing Federico Chiesa and forward Diogo Jota would all be out until after the November international break, with no exact dates for their return.

Brighton, meanwhile, will be seeking revenge.

The Seagulls have already taken points from Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United this season and despite their midweek loss to Liverpool, they are confident of a win.

“It’s disappointing to be knocked out of the Cup but we were not ruthless enough, and I think that was the difference,” said manager Fabian Hurzeler.

“It is just about avoiding mistakes because Liverpool will punish them.”

On the difference between playing home and away, he added: “In general you want to keep the same style but at some points you have to make adaptations.

“We try to focus on our style of play and dominate in possession and do this away from home as well as at home.”

Joao Pedro, who has been injured since September, and Matt O’Riley have returned to training but must still prove their fitness before they can feature. AFP