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Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Burnley at Anfield (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
- Excluding the long-term injuries to Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Alexander Isak, Slot says the rest of his players should be fit for Saturday.
- Mohamed Salah is expected to be available from next week when he comes back from the Africa Cup of Nations – with a potential return against Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday.
- Slot added: "Mo has been so important to this club so I'm happy he's back. Even if I had 15 attackers I'd still be happy that he's coming back. We're in talks with him – what's expected from him over there and what we expect over here but first of all he has an important game on Saturday [third place play-off]."
- On any movement in the January transfer window: "I think everyone is aligned about the challenges we're facing, that's not to say we're are going to act but everyone is aligned with what we're facing."
- Andy Robertson has said he would like to remain at Liverpool beyond this summer when his contract expires but is considering other options in order to secure more game time. Slot said: “I think I have to give him a big compliment about the things he said. Very mature and I understand everything he’s saying. Every player should have a same feeling about not starting every game but he also finds joy in the position and he understands how important he is to this club over all of the years. His comments in the media are a big compliment.”
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their past 11 matches with six wins and five draws but Slot believes his team can still improve, he said: "Ideally 11 games unbeaten is 11 wins in a row – that's what you're aiming for. That might be realistic for some teams but from where we were when we conceded the fourth goal against PSV to where we are now, I think we're in a much better place. But there's still enough room for improvement but that was the same last season when we were top of the Premier League and top of the Champions League."
- Slot added: "In the last 11 games we've hardly conceded chances but in the period before that when we lost a lot of games, we created more chances but conceded more. People look back and say 'please give us those open games again' but results weren't what we wanted. We have to find a balance and we will because I can see the players growing and getting belief again."
- On the race to Champions League qualification, Slot said: "We haven't put ourselves in the most ideal position, especially considering where we were after six games, but the reality is we're competing with teams for the fourth position. Still a lot to play for for us in the league because we know how important it is for this club to qualify for the Champions League. It didn't happen a few years ago and it had a big impact financially on the club. But that's not only for us, that's for a lot of teams."
- On the 1-0 victory at Turf Moor back in September, he said: "We had multiple chances before we at last scored that penalty and they made it really hard for us that day and they've made it really hard for a lot of other teams since then as well. We will be ready and we're looking forward it. Another game where we want to show we can do better. I'm hoping and waiting for the moment things really click."
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