In the pre-match press conference before Liverpool hosted West Ham United in the third round of the EFL Cup, Liverpool manager Slaughter gave detailed answers on the team's preparations, players' form and match outlook.
The importance of the EFL Cup
Slotter began by emphasizing the importance of the EFL Cup for Liverpool: "For us, this game is crucial because it is our next game and every game deserves our best. In the world of soccer, the next game is always the most important."
Federico Chiesa's starting problems
Responding to Federico Chiesa's availability, Slotter revealed, "Considering that he has had limited game time over the last three or four months, playing a maximum of 25 minutes and not taking part in any friendlies, I don't think that he will be able to play the full 90 minutes at the moment. Nonetheless, we will still consider starting him, but against a strong West Ham United side, he may need to be adjusted at the right time in the game to be at his best."
Team Rotation Plan
Slaughter said, "I want all the players to play, but the reality is cruel, we can only choose 11 players to play. Therefore, we will work out the best possible line-up based on the fitness of the players and the demands of the game. It also means that some players who have played more matches in the league may get a rest while others will get the stage to show their performance."
Kelleher's starting decision
Regarding the choice of goalkeeper position, Slotter made it clear: "Kelleher will start in this game. Alisson is on the verge of making his comeback but this game may be too early for him. We will continue to monitor his recovery and consider whether he will be able to play against Wolves at the weekend."
Players' enthusiasm for participation
Slaughter spoke highly of the players' enthusiasm to participate, "Every player on this team is eager to get on the field and they want to play for a great club in front of great fans. That desire and drive is what keeps us going."
Arnold's Growth and Gratitude
Referring to Arnold's comments about himself, Slaughter expressed great relief: "I was very happy to hear Arnold say that I would be tough on him and appreciated my help. This proves that he has gradually adapted to my coaching style and is beginning to understand the expectations I have placed in him. It's not easy to take over from a great coach like Klopp, but I'm very proud to see Arnold grow and improve like this."
Defensive Performance and Future Outlook
Slaughter was satisfied with the team's defensive performance: "Although our defense was tested a bit in the last game, overall our defense is still quite solid. We will face many more strong opponents in the coming games, but we are confident that we can do better in terms of conceding goals. At the same time, we will continue to work hard to improve the overall performance of the team and strive for a better result in the league table."
Njoni's likelihood of selection
On the question of whether Njoni is likely to make the team's roster, Slotter said, "We will make a decision based on what we saw in training this morning. But in my opinion, it is very likely that he will make our roster and not the U21's roster. We will have the right plan for each player to make sure that they can play their best in the game."
Appreciation of Kelleher
Finally, Slaughter spoke highly of Kelleher's performance, "I'm not surprised by Kelleher's performance at all. He has proved his mettle with his excellent performances in the pre-season. In this game he kept another clean sheet and made several key saves. This is a good thing for us as we have two very good keepers and an equally good third goalkeeper. I'm excited to see Kelleher continue to keep this up."
