Arne Slot Admits Things Will Be ‘more Difficult’ If Liverpool Sustain Any Further Injuries

Arne Slot has said Liverpool person “a hellhole of a challenge” to forestall injuries affecting their ambitions for nan remainder of nan play aft failing to motion Lutsharel Geertruida connected deadline day.

Although Liverpool strengthened for adjacent play pinch nan £60m signing of Jérémy Jacquet, who will get from Rennes successful nan summer, their existent problems successful defence were not covered. The Premier League champions did move for nan Netherlands world Geertruida, who is connected indebtedness astatine Sunderland from Leipzig and wanted nan transfer, but nan woody was called disconnected because Sunderland were incapable to unafraid a replacement.

Slot is without 2 defenders for nan remainder of nan play successful Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni, and Jeremie Frimpong is sidelined pinch a hep injury. Joe Gomez has missed nan past 2 games pinch a hep problem but could return to nan chair against Manchester City connected Sunday.

The Liverpool caput coach believes his squad will amended but would struggle to withstand further wounded setbacks. “I’m very happy pinch nan squad, fto that beryllium clear,” Slot said. “But it’s evident we person 3 semipermanent injuries. That’s why we tried to fortify successful nan wintertime break and nan subordinate you mentioned, successful nan end, wasn’t available.

“I deliberation there’s much to travel from this group of players for evident reasons. Some reasons I astir apt blasted myself for a bit, but immoderate things I cannot do thing about: injuries, a subordinate not fresh to play 3 games a week. But it’s clear if we person an wounded crisis, moreover much than we already have, past that makes things moreover much difficult. We person 16 players disposable and Trey [Nyoni] and Rio [Ngumoha] are 2 of them.

“This squad is capable to do amended and much than we’ve done until now, successful my opinion, but past they each request to enactment available. That’s going to beryllium a hellhole of a situation because we person 3 games successful 7 days coming up.”

Liverpool hit Chelsea to nan signing of Jacquet, who was besides coveted by Bayern Munich, and Slot insisted he agreed pinch nan club’s longer-term transportation strategy. “I ever want nan champion for nan nine moreover if successful nan short word it is not perfect for me,” he said. “I americium not saying it is [not ideal] but if it intends this, I would ever spell for nan signing that is champion for nan club. I knew which nine I went into. This nine has a exemplary of signing talented players younger. I person ever liked to activity successful that way.”