Every word Arne Slot said on Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and transfer plans ahead of Burnley

The Liverpool head coach spoke in great detail on Friday and was also asked about Calvin Ramsay, the team's form and the importance of earning a Champions League place

Live blog from Arne Slot's pre-Burnley press conference(Image: )

There was much to unpick from Arne Slot’s pre-match press conference on Friday, as the Liverpool head coach faced questions on Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and the Reds’ transfer plans.

One thing Slot did reveal, when speaking ahead of the Burnley game, is that he does not expect Calvin Ramsay to play a significant role in the second half of the season, despite being named as a substitute in the last seven matches.

He will not be the solution for Conor Bradley’s injury, it would seem, and Slot was quizzed on whether the club could look to find an alternative in the market. As for Salah, he is set to return from the Africa Cup of Nations next week, but the date remains unclear. Slot was asked about all of that and more in Friday’s press conference - here’s what he had to say.

Robertson contract: “I think I have to give him a big compliment about the things he said; very mature. I could understand everything he was saying. I think every player should have the same feeling about his current position, and that is that he is not starting every game. But I am really happy he says that he finds joy in the position he has been in and how important he has been to this club over the years, and he definitely still is in the position he is now. He did play quite a lot of games, not as much as he probably hoped, but the way he is acting and his comments in the media is a big compliment and says a lot about him, and how good he has been for this club for the last eight and a half years.”

Dealing with Salah return: “First of all, he needs to play another big game for Egypt on Saturday and then he comes back to us. I am happy that he comes back. Mo has been so important for this club, for me, so I am happy that he is back. Even if I had 15 attackers I still would have been happy if he came back but that is not our current situation. Happy to have him back after an important game that he still has to play.”

Eleven-match unbeaten run: “Ideally, it's not 11 games unbeaten, it's 11 wins in a row. That's always where you're aiming for. If that is realistic, it might be for some teams, I think [Aston] Villa won a lot of games in a row. But from where we were when we conceded the fourth goal against PSV [Eindhoven] and then where we are now, I think we are in a much better place. But there's still enough room for improvement but that room for improvement was also there last season when we were top of the league and top of the Champions League in this period of time.”

Slot feels Liverpool is improving but can get much better(Image: Getty Images)

Securing Champions League place: “It's a challenge because we play in the Premier League and the teams you are mentioning have very good teams as well. We haven't put ourselves in the most ideal position, especially if you compare it to where we were after six games. But the reality is we are competing with these teams at this moment in time for the fourth position, because Villa is having such a great season.

“Still a lot to play for us in the league because we all know how important that it is for any club – but definitely also for this club – to qualify for the Champions League. That didn't happen two or three years ago, I think, and that had a big impact financially on the club. We are aware of the importance of qualification for the Champions League but that's not only for us, that's for a lot of teams. We are also aware of the fact that the league is probably stronger than ever. That is something where we have to do really well in the league and, of course, there's the FA Cup and the Champions League to fight for as well.”

Salah back for Marseille? “Next week. We are in talks with him what is expected of him over there, what is expected over here. But first of all he needs to have an important game on Saturday and next week he will be back. That [Marseille] is something we are talking about together now.”

Salah talks: “What happens between Mo and me, on the phone or over here, stays between the two of us and I dont think it is necessary for me to share all the private conversations I have.”

Salah could return against Marseille next week(Image: (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images))

Ramsay role: “It’s great for Calvin where he is at the moment. A half year ago, he came back to this club to the Under-21s. Everyone playing for the Under-21s is hoping for a chance [in the first team]. It is a big chance that he is having now to come to the first. When someone is really unlucky when the injuries he is having like we are now, there is always a player that benefits from that.

“Calvin is one of them, he is with us, but I still think I have better options to play. The moment I am running out of options, he showed in the one game that he played against Palace, and the moments he trained with us, that he is good enough to be in and around our players, and then you have to wait for a chance to show this to the rest of the world. But at this moment in time, I have, in my opinon, still better options than him.”

Bradley's injury force rethink? “I think everyone is aligned about the challenges we are facing. That’s not to say that we are going to act, but we are aligned on what we are facing. There is no-one who has a different opinion on it. That’s not to say that anything is going to happen.”