Liverpool: ‘Every game is crucial’ says Slot

Liverpool manager Arne Slot says ‘every game is crucial’ as he chases a place in the top four of the Premier League.

The defending champions sliipped to sixth after defeat to Bournemouth last weekend, with former captain Jamie Carragher suggesting this week that Slot’s future could depend on securing Champions League football.

They face Newcastle on Saturday with right-back Jeremie Frimpong facing several weeks on the sidelines.

Slot said: “Throughout the whole season every game is crucial, but the way we have positioned ourselves now makes probably every game even more crucial because that [top four] is definitely what we want to achieve.

“We are fully aware of the fact that one win is never enough at this club and the next one [game] is coming fast against Newcastle. I am 100% sure that that game is a bigger challenge than the one that we faced on Wednesday.

“But it is always helpful to win, especially after we lost in the last minute against Bournemouth. It’s always nice to have a better feeling during the week.”

Liverpool were rampant against Qarabag in midweek with Mo Salah back on the scoresheet.

But Alexander Isak will not face his former side this weekend with Slot confirming the Sweden striker is still a way away from a return.

“I was really pleased for Mo that he scored that goal because no matter how much he has scored for this club it is always good to be on the scoresheet,” Slot said.

“Isak has not even been on the [training] pitch yet. I am not expecting him on the pitch today or tomorrow, in terms of his recovery work, so that is going to take him a while before he is back, as we knew.”