Arne Slut, the head coach of Liverpool FC, held a press conference ahead of his team's match against Fulham in the English Premier League, where he addressed several important topics related to player readiness, assessment of the current season, and the latest technical and administrative updates within the team.

Regarding the evaluation of the season so far, Slut said: "Realistically, there are two teams slightly ahead of us, although Aston Villa is close to them, but Arsenal's victory over Villa widened the gap a bit. We have faced many difficulties throughout the season. We started well in terms of results, and the matches were very close, then we went through a phase of the season where the matches are still close, but luck was not always on our side. Now we have a streak of seven or eight matches unbeaten, but that does not mean we are soaring in the league. Every match is tough, and the difference between teams is very small."

He added: "Every match requires hard work. We are often slightly better than the opponent but not by much. We always try to increase this small margin so we can make a bigger difference. We hope to find the right time to take off during the season. So far, the matches have been very close, sometimes lucky and sometimes unlucky."

Regarding the goalless draw with Leeds United, he continued: "We did not create many chances despite having significant possession. The players are constantly trying, making movements and passes on the field, but sometimes you need a magic touch or a corner to open the match. This has not happened for us yet this season."

About the upcoming match against Fulham, he said: "I expect a different match against Fulham, given their coach's playing style. They will try to attack a lot and keep possession. It will be a more open match, and we have to show that we do not concede goals easily. Perhaps this will help us create more chances as well, but the match will be tough."

Regarding the team’s standing, Slut added: "Being in fourth place at mid-season reflects the team's current performance. The gap is small, and sometimes we could have earned more points if we had managed corners and other situations better. But overall, it is fair to be behind Arsenal and Manchester City."

On Aaron Briggs’ departure from the coaching staff, he added: "I thank him for the year and a half we worked together. He was an important part of our league title last season. He is a promising English coach, and his departure is natural; he will find a new challenge in the future."

He continued: "I have no news yet about a replacement, so I cannot talk about potential coaches' names. We will look for the best for the team at the right time."

Regarding the readiness of Wataru Endo and Joe Gomez, Slut said: "I expect Gomez to train on Friday, and Wataru is not ready. We have players on the bench who have not played many minutes in the league, so we have to manage readiness carefully."