Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Tuesday’s Champions League game away to AC Milan (20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
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Federico Chiesa will be available for selection for the first time since his summer move from Juventus but it is “too early” for him to be in the starting line-up.
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Slot added the Italian winger “combines quality with a tremendous work rate” and “brings this to his game with the combination of scoring goals”.
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He is excited for his first taste of Champions League football with Liverpool: “It’s a big game, also for me, but a big game for us. Because of the history these two teams have, the venue it is played in, it is one to look forward to.”
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On Dominic Szoboszlai: “He has been important for us and his pressing has been outstanding. Something we have to work on is making him even more involved in scoring goals. He scored three last season but for an attacking midfielder at Liverpool, his numbers need to go up.”
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Slot expects a “completely different game” to Saturday’s defeat to Nottingham Forest: “The team and me were really disappointed although we always put it in the right perspective. Last Saturday we didn’t do as many things good as we did against United. We could have done a lot of things better.”
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However, he did not believe the defeat was down to squad rotation: “If rotation is the reason we lost the game it wouldn’t be my first loss of 2024. It is too simple to put this loss on rotation. Too many players didn’t reach their normal level.”
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He is not daunted by Tuesday’s opponents: “We have a lot of respect for the quality of players and history of Milan. They have quality players. We’re not scared but we do respect.”
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On the new Champions League format: “It is difficult to say how many points are needed because it is the first game we play this competition [like this]. I think it’s clear if you want to end up in the first eight you need a lot of points. The only thing I like about the new format is every night there is a nice fixture to watch on television.”
