Liverpool team coach Arne Slot appeared at a press conference to discuss tomorrow's match against Tottenham Hotspur in the seventeenth round of the Premier League, to be held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The coach began his comments on Mohamed Salah's recent issue by saying: "I said last week that actions speak louder than words. We have moved past it; he was included in the squad against Brighton and played. Now he has the Africa Cup of Nations and will participate in important matches, so it is fair that the focus is entirely on that."

He added: "We are getting closer to the team I want. This process has had its ups and downs, which makes perfect sense to me given the changes we made in the summer, and we made them intentionally because we felt they were necessary. You have to adapt, and that takes time. We've been very unlucky with refereeing decisions. Until Saturday, we hadn't received a clear red card, but that didn't harm us."

Zad said: "We earned the victories in the beginning, but the margins were very small. We need to ensure that this team reaches a level where refereeing decisions do not affect its performance."

Regarding the possibility of Dominic Szoboszlai playing, "This entirely depends on his condition today. Then we will talk with the player and the medical staff. If the player feels comfortable and has done everything required of him, he will start the match. Dominic will be a starter if he is fully fit."

He continued about Curtis Jones' level: "He has performed very well in the last three matches, and this is not new for him, but perhaps this is the first time since I arrived that he has done it three times in a row. He has the chance to reach the fourth, fifth, and sixth matches at the same level. He gives his all every moment for the team, and he is very comfortable with the ball as well."

And Ibrahima Konaté added: "For defenders, it's not uncommon to be in the wrong position when goals are conceded. He was unlucky at times. We play low-scoring matches, and that directly affects the result. Recently, he hasn't been in those situations, which is what we prefer to see from him. We are less exposed to danger than we were in other stages of the season."

He explained: "Hugo Ekitike? We knew the kind of player we were signing. He had to leave the Brighton match after 70 minutes due to cramps, but he was putting in almost twice the effort he was a few months ago. His ability to score and his technical touch are innate qualities, so no one is surprised by that. What has improved is the amount of running and effort he puts in for the team, and he also helps us defensively."

Regarding having a week off without any matches: "It's always beneficial for the coach to work on the training field. You can also influence the players when you have a match. I would prefer to have more weeks like this than we currently do. It's a way to implement new ideas or emphasize areas that need improvement. I liked it, and next week will be similar. It's like a mini preparation period for us."

He emphasized: "Winning gives a good feeling and a positive spirit after all these changes in the summer. The league schedule is very tight, so a win or a loss makes a big difference. Our main focus is to build on the last five matches. We were solid defensively, which is a good foundation, along with the players becoming increasingly ready to compete with the pace of the Premier League. I believe there is more to come from us."

He continued: "I believe we are making clear progress. I have had to involve players who were not physically ready several times this season, and not just the new players. I see an improvement in the players' fitness, and as a result, an improvement in their performance. We are definitely moving forward."

He concluded about the team's condition: "Jacopo underwent a check-up and the results were reassuring, so we are not too worried. He may return earlier than expected, but definitely not tomorrow. Joe Gomez is also out of the squad. Dominic Szoboszlai trained yesterday for the first time, and we will assess his condition today."