Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Tuesday’s Champions League game against Girona (kick-off 17:45 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
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Slot confirmed that Alisson, who was included in the travelling squad on Monday, is fit to face the Spanish side.
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The Liverpool boss said it “speaks for itself” having the “outstanding” number one back available, adding: “But, if you look at how his replacement did, it is difficult to do even better. We expect some margins may be better, but Kelleher did so well we can say we have two very good goalkeepers who can do the job well.”
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Slot is unsure if finishing top of the Champions League table will be helpful for the next round, but says they have always played their starters as you “need results to finish in the highest possible position to skip the play-off round”.
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Slot added: “In the end, if it means by playing your starters always and skipping that next round then still having a difficult draw, maybe then we are going to think about it differently next season in the group stage. But we have to wait and see. First of all, we want to stay in the top eight and we think we still need one win.”
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On the temptation to rotate players or whether the postponed game on Saturday has helped: “If we had played that game then we would have still played the same team tomorrow night, but you don’t know what that fixture would have led too. Very good choice to cancel the game for the safety of people and if you want a special last game at Goodison Park then you need good circumstances. Everyone is really fit because we skip that game so no reason to rotate.”
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On the advantage of missing a play-off round when Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester City may have to play one: “If we end up in the top, I imagine they will as well. Arsenal 95%, City need a bit more, but they are able to win three times in a row as well. I don’t know if it is an advantage. We have played nearly every three days and not done that bad.”
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He jokingly added: “Maybe we should implement friendly games [for the play-off time] if we do finish in the top eight.”
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Slot believes it is “really special” what Girona have done in the past few years and said they were “close to becoming like Leicester City of England a couple of years ago, competing for title”. He continued: “With this budget it shows how good the manager is. This season they still do better than results might look.”
