At 21:00 on September 3 (CEST), Liverpool manager Arne Slot held a pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow's clash with Ipswich Town. He discussed the team's overall situation, commenting on Barcola, Gakpo, and others, as well as injury recovery. Here is the full content of the press conference:

On new signing Barcola:

We are very pleased with Barcola. Signing a highly talented player was a top priority for us. He also has a great mentality, and I'm delighted that he was eager to join Liverpool. He genuinely wanted to come here, which is a positive sign, and with his abilities, he arrived with the intention of helping us, so he will certainly perform well. If everything goes well in today's training session, he could definitely be available to play tomorrow.

On my relationship with Gakpo:

My relationship with Gakpo has been open from the start. To date, his performances for us have been excellent. He is well aware of the transfer market situation, and we have maintained close communication. I hope he can maintain this form. He is in good physical and mental condition, and I'm very pleased he is staying with the team.

On squad balance:

Rather than having players who fit only one position, we prefer to have top-quality players in our squad who can play multiple roles. When I've coached other teams, I often asked wingers to be capable of playing on both flanks.

Currently, Nico Williams and Gakpo can both play on the right wing, and most of our wingers primarily play on the left but also perform well when shifted to the right. Barcola is extremely versatile and can play on both the left and right wings. He typically played on the right wing during his time at Lyon. The deployment of our wingers needs to be adjusted flexibly based on how our opponents set up. I'm very satisfied with our current winger options. We have sufficient rotation choices on the right flank to handle any type of match.

On external expectations for new signings:

We cannot pressure players to perform well simply because of their transfer fees. Everyone has seen how high the transfer fees are for new signings at other clubs this summer. As long as a player wears our shirt, he is just a regular member of our squad.

On frustration over not yet winning:

Absolutely. It certainly doesn't feel good when you don't win. Although we've only played two matches, we desperately need a victory. Tomorrow's match is very important. The first two weeks of a season are always the most challenging period, but now that the transfer window has closed and the squad is settled, I feel much more comfortable. We must perform to expectations and get the job done.

On Ipswich Town:

Ipswich, they claimed their first home victory. In the match against Manchester United a few days ago, they dominated the first half until Manchester United went 2-1 up, and then the game really opened up. We must be fully prepared and give our all.

On Szoboszlai:

I have never encountered a player who refuses to play in a certain position. The club communicates about tactical arrangements, but everyone is willing to contribute to the team. If Szoboszlai needs to play as a right winger, right-back, or midfielder, he always puts the team's interests first.

Currently, the squad is going through an injury crisis, and we need versatile players like Szoboszlai who can play multiple positions. Players often have to shift positions temporarily during a match.

On the team's ability to adjust when trailing:

The ability to fight back after going behind is a positive sign, but I prefer when the team goes ahead first. Last season, we conceded early in most of our matches, and if we could get ahead early, things would be completely different.

Our focus is on making a stronger start and not waiting until we concede before pressing actively. We must be proactive from the beginning, control the tempo of the match, and everything will be much easier.

On whether Barcola is ready to start:

That's a good question. I think he is in good form and has been training with the team. But truthfully, he hasn't had any match time during the entire pre-season. His training form is good. As for whether to start him or not, we still need to consider it carefully, but we must take into account that he has missed all the pre-season matches and lacks actual playing time.

On the overall transfer activity:

I'm very satisfied with the squad's signings this summer. Do I still want to sign more players? Ultimately, all the new signings the club made are individuals who can improve the team's strength. We also considered other targets previously, but due to various factors such as competitive considerations or financial costs, we ultimately decided against them. Those deals were not cost-effective in the transfer market.

However, I'm very satisfied at this moment. The club now has a group of excellent players. Now, the players must give their all and demonstrate their value.

On injury recovery:

Gomez is closest to returning; he will participate in full training next week. Leoni is next, and he is expected to train with the team during the international break. Bradley, and especially Ekitike, will need longer to recover.

On Nico Williams:

We know Nico Williams can play on the left wing and has demonstrated his ability. We need to develop his performances on the right wing to expand his positional versatility on the pitch. He is still very young, and we cannot conclude he is unsuitable for the right wing just because his first performance there was unimpressive.

Muñoz primarily played on the left wing for most of his career, but his performances on the right wing have actually been even more outstanding. How well a winger performs sometimes also depends on the coordination and interaction with his surrounding teammates.

I have great confidence in the wingers in our squad, and everyone will get opportunities to play. Nico has the qualities of a Premier League player, and his abilities are outstanding.

On personnel rotation between right-back and midfielder positions:

Currently, the team's challenge is Bradley's injury, which has left us short-staffed at right-back. This is also why I value Szoboszlai's versatility in filling the right-back position; the multi-positional attributes of our players can help us weather the injury crisis.

In midfield, we have sufficient depth, and the important thing is that I make the right tactical choices. I'm currently working on the optimal combination. The team has a packed schedule and will compete on multiple fronts, which also allows us to test the effectiveness of all available personnel and different midfield combinations. This is something a manager needs to do well.

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