Arne Slot provided a preview of Liverpool’s upcoming Champions League match against AC Milan during a press conference on Monday evening.
The Reds’ head coach spoke to reporters at San Siro following the team’s arrival in Italy ahead of the 8pm BST kick-off on Tuesday night against the Serie A side.
On managing his first Liverpool Champions League game on his birthday, Slot joked that his birthday would be less significant, emphasizing the importance of the match due to the teams’ histories and the iconic venue.
Discussing Dominik Szoboszlai nearing 50 appearances for Liverpool, Slot highlighted Szoboszlai’s importance to the team, particularly his pressing game.
However, Slot expressed a desire to see Szoboszlai contribute more in terms of goals and assists, noting his potential to improve in a quality squad.
Slot was asked about the threat of AC Milan, to which he responded that while he doesn’t believe any team is “scared,” there is strong respect for Milan’s players, such as Tijjani Reijnders, who have been in great form.
He emphasized the respect Liverpool has for Milan’s quality without using fear as a motivator.
Reflecting on the disappointment of their recent defeat to Nottingham Forest, Slot admitted that both the team and himself were frustrated by the result but pointed out that each game is different, noting that Milan presents a new challenge compared to Forest.
Slot also commented on the new Champions League format, expressing that it’s too early to determine how many points will be required to qualify.
He appreciated the increased frequency of exciting matches but admitted that only time will reveal how the format impacts the players.
Regarding the weekend defeat, Slot dismissed the idea that rotation was the primary cause, instead attributing the loss to the opponent’s style and his players not performing at their usual level.
He acknowledged that rotation may be necessary moving forward, especially with players coming off international duties, but downplayed it as a sole factor in the loss.
Finally, Slot addressed concerns about Milan’s Rafael Leao, acknowledging him as a top player and emphasizing that it would take a full team effort to neutralize his threat.
On Alexis Mac Allister, he confirmed the player’s importance and stated that he would decide how many minutes he would play against Milan.
