Every word from Arne Slot's press conference on Jeremy Jacquet, injury news and Curtis Jones future

Arne Slot address the press ahead of Liverpool's Premier League meeting with Manchester City on Sunday, and he was asked about a wide range of issues

Arne Slot during a press conference on Thursday(Image: LFC)

Arne Slot confirmed that Jeremie Frimpong remains sidelined ahead of Manchester City's visit to Anfield on Sunday, but Joe Gomez could be in contention to return for Liverpool.

During a press conference on Thursday, the Reds head coach also addressed the club's decision to sign Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, while he also expressed his views on Curtis Jones after speculation that the midfielder could have left the club last month.

Liverpool faces City at Anfield on Sunday afternoon as the Reds look to build on last week's demolition of Newcastle. It was a quiet January transfer window for the club, though Jacquet's acquisition gives fans something to look forward to this summer.

Here's the full transcript from the press conference:

On the deal to sign Jeremy Jacquet...

Slot: "Very pleasing of course, first of all because he's a very big talent and maybe even more than only a talent – but we speak about talent because of his age. Second of all, because weren't the only ones interested in him, so another big compliment for the people that are working very hard to sign players, that we were able to sign such a big talent. Another example of the model we are using at this club. Young, very talented players sometimes at the start of their careers, sometimes a few years into their careers, but always players that are young and that can improve us and help us for the short and long term. We've signed a lot of them recently, and I've said many times before, the future of this club is in a very good place."

On Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez injuries...

"Jeremie will definitely train this week so won't play this weekend. Joe, we have a little bit of hope that he might train on Saturday. He won't be available to start but may be available to help the team if needed during the game, because there are not that many defenders available at the moment."

On the test that Manchester City poses...

"We were completely outplayed when we played them in the first half earlier in the season – for large parts, not the complete 45 minutes. It's another moment to see where we are with the development of this team. That being said, we know the importance of the result on Sunday, but that goes for all the 20 teams that are playing in the Premier League this weekend. It's the end phase of the season, so results matter more and more, and a very good team that were even able to win yesterday against a team that we beat last weekend, not even with their starters, so that tells you – combined with the game we played against them – what a force City still is, and always will be."

Pep Guardiola takes his Manchester City side to Anfield this weekend(Image: 2026 Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA)

On whether last weekend's performance against Newcastle was Liverpool's best of the season...

"No, I think we've played much better than that to be honest, but it was a good last hour, the first half-hour wasn't what we wanted it to be, again for obvious reasons. The first half hour, we didn't play that much, there were a lot of set pieces which took a lot of time, then it was difficult to find momentum and tempo and pace. I liked our last hour but for me it wasn't our best. We've played many games, really good football, unfortunately we were not always able to be that good in both boxes – now in the last two games we've been really good in both boxes and now people start to notice that our football might be better as well, but that football part has always been – for 95 per cent of the minutes we've played – for me, far above an acceptable level, but both boxes have been not good enough, throughout maybe 95 per cent of the time. In the last two games it was, and then all of a sudden, not only the performance but the result looked different as well."

On what made the performance against Newcastle good...

"A combination of many things. Off the ball we were really good. First goal against Newcastle came from a high press and a very good transition moment, we had a few very good transition moment, and I also see individual performances that are getting better and better and better, because these players are getting fitter and fitter and fitter, and are adjusting more and more towards the amount of games in the Premier League and Champions League. We are again going to a week where we again have to play three games in seven days – and not the most simple ones – so three strong teams to face in seven days again, and that is another challenge we are facing this week."

On Florian Wirtz's improvement and whether he should take some credit for it...

"First and foremost credit to the player, because he has to do the work – not only on the pitch, but also in the gym. And also as a manager, even if he is maybe struggling physically a little bit in the start, you need to keep on playing him because that's the only way that players can improve. I had many of them this season. I think he did not improve that much on the ball, because from the start he was special on the ball. Maybe now he has a better connection with his teammates because they've played more and more together, but off the ball I see the biggest improvement with him, and with some others. That combination makes you ready for the Premier League, because the Premier League is about both – it's not only about on the ball, it's also about off the ball."

Florian Wirtz has been good lately(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Slot on where Liverpool stacks up with City at the moment...

"We have very good players, but almost every team in the Premier League has as as well. The development of the team, how we are able to play against them now, is very helpful [to see where we're at]. We showed most of the season that we are able to compete with any team that we have faced, but unfortunately we haven't shown the consistency to get consistent results, but I think we've shown that we are able to compete – except for large parts of the first half against City earlier this season where they were better than us. It also helps that a goal of ours was disallowed for, in my opinion, the wrong reasons, and they got a penalty after a VAR interference which was light for me as well. So these things also matter for me as well, but they were the better team, and I think we want to show a different side to us this time."

Slot on signings young players for the future and Virgil van Dijk's future...

"If I tell you that this club does everything for a reason, I don't think you are surprised. Everything that is done over here is never from panic – it is always for a long-term idea, or something that has been thought about for a long time - not only by one person, but my multiple people. Of course we are aware of the fact that Virgil will not play for this club for 10 more years, but he will be here for another year and a half, and maybe even longer. If he keeps staying as fit as he is now, because what a compliment to him that at his age he can play every three days, not only for our club but also for his country, for seven or eight months already. Hopefully he can stay as fit as he is for multiple years, but this club – we are not stupid – we do know that somewhere in the upcoming years that there is life for this club without Virgil. You are not talking about Virgil, but I can say this for every position: this club is not only thinking about the short-term future, but it also thinks about the mid to long-term future."

Slot on reports linking Curtis Jones with a move away last month...

"He's played a lot of minutes – not all of them – but he is also unlucky because that is probably the only area of the squad where we haven't had any injuries. But still he's played a lot of minutes, so that's of course why we kept him as well, because although we have a lot of midfielders, we need them in different positions as well! And the moment you start to use midfielders in different positions, the line of midfielders gets smaller and smaller. Of course we kept him, and his situation hasn't changed. To us, he's one of the 16 outfield players we have available for the long term now – and also at this moment of time with two really young players in Trey [Nyoni] and Rio [Ngumoha] included – It would be a bit strange if we would let anyone go if we only have 16 available."

Curtis Jones was linked with a move away from Liverpool in January(Image: Getty Images)

Slot on Milos Kerkez's recent improvement...

"This is what you get if you play longer together with your teammates. This is what you get if you keep playing those players who have moments in games that are not as good as other moments, or have games that are not as good as other games. This is normal for younger players, and the only thing you can do as a manager is keep trusting in them and keep believing in them, because we know who we signed and we saw his potential, and we knew that potential would be seen if you keep playing for them. There are a lot of games to be played, and this is the first time he has played the combibation Premier League and Champions League – which is also why I'm happy to have Robbo in the squad, because he has helped the team on multiple occasions as well. Definitely, Milos is another example of a young player we've signed where the best of him is still to come, and he's already developed this season."

Slot on defending counter-attacks from opposition teams...

"Controlling a counter-attack is of course crucial, especially if you have a lot of ball possession, but usually if you play against City, it is not sure if you will have more ball possession than them. But in almost all the other games we had, that is the situation, and I think in the beginning of the season, we were maybe the team with the most ball possession, so that tells you what ideas we have about football. But it also tells you that if you have the ball, you are usually in their half, and you need to be very well protected against the counter attack. At the start of the season that was not like I wanted it to be, and now we have to find the perfect balance in creating enough chances to score but being able to not concede counter-attacks."

Slot on Curtis Jones' long-term future ahead of the expiry of his current contract next year...

"[Contract] talks are not taking place in here – they're taking place in other places in this building. We're all aware that he only has one and a half years left [on his current contract], so that's all I can say about it."