Liverpool is preparing for a tough away match against Sunderland in the English Premier League, amidst complicated circumstances following a 2-1 loss to Manchester City in the previous round, which widened the gap with the top four teams.

Arne Slot, Liverpool's coach, confirmed during the match's press conference that he is under significant pressure due to recurring injuries, especially in the right-back position, but he sees improvement in the team's performance despite recent results.

Slot spoke about the absence of players: "My feeling hasn't changed, I felt disappointed upon seeing Soboslai's red card as he will miss the Sunderland match, and as for Joe Gomez, he hasn't trained with us yet and I expect him to participate in today's training for the first time. The fact is, we might miss four players in the right-back position, forcing us to rely on six different players in this position this season, including Curtis Jones and Endo."

He added: "Soboslai's absence forces us to change in the midfield as well. One of the reasons for our results is the time it took players to adapt to playing in the league and the Champions League in one week, but we've reached a stage of maturity, and our performance in recent matches gives me confidence, though it's necessary to turn this confidence into victories."

Regarding bad luck and pressure, Slot explained: "It seems the team is suffering from bad luck, even new players have been injured, but we must focus on improving performance, especially since we've conceded late goals more than usual. By the end of the season, we'll know if it's just bad luck or a flaw in identity."

On Sunderland's level: "There are teams presenting impressive levels like Arsenal, Villa, and Brentford, and Sunderland is also among them. What they've achieved after their promotion to the Premier League is a great accomplishment, and their home record is strong, having faced major teams like City and Arsenal there."

On the importance of qualifying for the Champions League, he added: "If we don't qualify for the Champions League, it will be an unacceptable season. Major signings were limited, and I fully understand the importance of being in the Champions League. We have to be near perfect to make up for lost points."

On maintaining morale, he pointed out: "A draw for us is like a loss, the players feel frustrated but they are confident in their ability to compete with any team. The challenge is to reach a performance that befits the club's status."

On Alisson Becker's stats, Slot added: "Statistics must be analyzed deeply, as he might have to play more long balls which reduces passing accuracy. The most important feature of a goalkeeper is shot-stopping, and he's excellent at that, and I don't always find statistics useful in evaluating him."