Liverpool news conference: Slot speaking after 'nice football over trophies' comments

'With Joe Gomez, we have a little bit of hope'

Liverpool v Man City (Sun, 16:30 GMT)

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Arne Slot on Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez availability: "Jeremie will definitely not train this week so he is not available for the weekend.

"With Joe, we have a little bit of hope that he might train Saturday so not available to start but maybe available to help the team if needed because, as you know, there are not many defenders available at the moment."

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Liverpool v Man City (Sun, 16:30 GMT)

Liverpool

Arne Slot says he has seen a huge improvement from Florian Wirtz with his off the ball work since he joined the club.

He adds that there has never been any doubt about his "special" talent.

Full quotes to follow...

'Such a big talent and another example of the model we're using at this club'

Liverpool v Man City (Sun, 16:30 GMT)

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Arne Slot on the signing of defender Jeremy Jacquet: "Very pleasing of course. He's a very big talent and maybe even more than talent but we speak about talent because of his age. Second, because we weren't the only one interested in him so it's a big compliment to the people working really hard to sign players.

"Such a big talent and another example of the model we're using at this club - young, very talented players sometimes at the start of their careers or sometimes already a little bit a few years into their career but always players that are young and can improve us in the short term but also definitely in the long term.

"We've signed a lot of them recently and like I've said many times in the mid-long term future of this club, and even the short term, is in a very good place."

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Liverpool v Man City (Sun, 16:30 GMT)

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Arne Slot is here now.

He starts with a bit of team news.

He says Jeremie Frimpong remains out and won't be available for the match but Joe Gomez could potentially play a part, though not from the start.

We'll bring you full quotes as we get them.

'Big surprise Liverpool not bought a defender for now'

Liverpool v Man City (Sun, 16:30 GMT)

Steph Houghton

Former England captain speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live

The club I thought would go into the market for right now is Liverpool, just because of the injuries they have in the defensive unit.

It was a discussion even from the beginning of the season in terms of if Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konate picked up an injury.

Now, Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley are out on that right-hand side and Dominik Szoboszlai is playing at right-back.

Liverpool have been inconsistent and want to challenge at the end of the season.

It is a big surprise they have not bought anyone to come in now and just signed a defender for the summer.

ICYMI: Liverpool complete deadline day signing of Jacquet

Liverpool v Man City (Sun, 16:30 GMT)

Another one Arne Slot will undoubtedly be asked about today...

Liverpool finalised a deal for Jeremy Jacquet in a deal worth up to £60m on transfer deadline day - but the defender will not move to Anfield until the summer.

It would not be an understatement to say he was a name most people were unaware of at the start of the winter window.

To commit up to £60m - £55m up front before a potential £5m in add ons - for a 20-year-old is a hefty call but Liverpool view the French centre-back as a long-term investment and someone who will form an integral part of their backline for years to come.

Given the club's defensive problems this season - they have conceded 33 goals from 24 Premier League games - and their ongoing injury crisis, it is also telling Arne Slot's side were prepared to wait until the summer for Jacquet, who will join from Ligue 1 Rennes.

The question of whether they could have got him now has a simple answer - Rennes were simply unwilling to sanction a move until the summer.

get involved

Get Involved - Is playing attractive football more important than silverware?

Click 'Get Involved' to have your say

Right then, this seems to be a question worth asking off the back of those Arne Slot comments.

As a football fan, how important is your team playing an attractive style of football to you?

Would you rather be entertained watching your side but finish the season trophyless?

Or would you be happy enough being kings of the HOOF if it meant winning a trophy at the end of it?

Spurs under Ange Postecoglou come to mind - but they did end up with a trophy after all - albeit with a bit of a style change in that Europa League final.

Anyway, click that 'Get Involved' button and we'll publish your comments throughout this news conference.

'The biggest thing is playing the nicest football to watch' - Slot

Liverpool v Man City (Sun, 16:30 GMT)

Some interesting comments from Liverpool boss Arne Slot that may well be brought up in today's news conference.

Speaking to the club's Reds Roundtable podcast this week, Slot spoke about the importance of playing an attractive style of football and how it is perceived by fans at a club in comparison to winning trophies.

"As a manager, you can win the league, Champions League, the FA Cup or the League Cup but the biggest thing you can win is that you can play the nicest football to watch," he explained.

"Although, at this moment in time, fans might argue a little bit. It is absolutely something that I am aiming for.

"I always want to have the ball, I want it to be intense and want the fans to like what they see.

"Not all of our fans see it as a joy to watch and the hardest thing is I even understand, I agree with them.

"Trophies is one thing but being a team, club or a manager that stands for good football, is, in the long-term, worth more."

For better and Wirtz - Reds finding form

Liverpool v Man City (Sun, 16:30 GMT)

Pat Nevin

Former footballer and presenter

There has been a temptation to turn up at Anfield recently and think "who are you and what have you done with Liverpool?"

There have been dizzying falls from grace and collective uncertainty, which is all very unlike Liverpool. But maybe they were simply a team in transition.

Happily, for The Kop, the recent displays from middle to front suggest that this is merely a changing of the old guard after all and a change that will work.

Hugo Ekitike has been a revelation, Florian Wirtz the same as their understanding grows. The Premier League has little tradition for patience these days but Liverpool as a club have not panicked. It now looks clear that at the top, they knew what was going on all along and they are quickly becoming a joy to watch again.

Wirtz is showing that he is perfectly capable of being the main man and maybe even reaching the stellar levels of a player like Kevin de Bruyne. He is now regularly showing the imagination, that other-worldly vision in tight situations and the sublime creativity that leaves even top defenders looking elephantine.

Premier League table

Here's how things look going into this weekend's fixtures.

Liverpool have struggled with consistency this season but three points to back up the 4-1 victory against Newcastle would go along way to getting fans back on board.

Man City on the other hand could finish the weekend as many as nine points behind Arsenal should results go against them but a win over the Reds and a favour from Sunderland could see that gap cut to three.

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