No extra pressure for Slot as leaders Liverpool pull clear

Arne Slot insists Liverpool’s commanding position at the top of the Premier League table has led to no extra strain during his first season in charge at Anfield. Thursday’s 3-1 win over Leicester left Liverpool seven points clear at the summit ahead of Arsenal’s match against Ipswich late last night.
Even if the fourth-placed Gunners win, Liverpool will still be six points in front with a game in hand. Liverpool have lost just one game so far this season, with Slot overseeing a seamless transition after taking over from Jurgen Klopp. Slot’s side had to come from behind against Leicester after Jordan Ayew scored six minutes in, with goals from Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah turning the tide.
“You’re sitting in front of the Liverpool manager, so there is always pressure at this club,” the 46-year-old said. “If we are one, two, three, four or five in the table, if you work at a big club like Liverpool, there is always pressure... It’s not so strange for a club like us to be top of the league but we know how many good teams there are in this league and they are able to win almost every game as well. So there’s no extra pressure, there is always pressure if you work at a club like Liverpool.”
Salah’s goal was his 19th of the season, but with no new contract yet agreed, the 32-year-old Egypt forward is free to speak to overseas clubs about a free transfer from next week. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and local hero Trent Alexander-Arnold are in the same position but Slot stressed he had no new information on the contract situations of any of the three key players.
“If we would, then it’s probably not the moment to tell you now,” Slot told reporters. “In general, I don’t talk about contract situations here. It would be a surprise if I was the one to announce that one of them have extended.
“Keep asking, that’s your job but you’re probably not going to get an answer from me... As long as they keep performing like this, the head coach is happy.”
Slot will be without the suspended Dominik Szoboszlai for tomorrow’s trip to West Ham after he collected his fifth booking of the season against Leicester, while Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley remain injured ahead of Liverpool’s final fixture of 2024.
Lopetegui eager to solve injury ‘problems’ ahead of Liverpool clash
Julen Lopetegui said his West Ham side need to solve several injury “problems” ahead of facing Premier League leaders Liverpool tomorrow, after extending their unbeaten run to four matches at Southampton. The Hammers won 1-0 at St Mary’s on Thursday to lie 13th in the table – nine points clear of the relegation zone.
Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, centre-back Max Kilman and midfielder Carlos Soler were forced off against Southampton due to injuries, while Tomas Soucek and Guido Rodriguez received bookings that trigger one-match suspensions. “Always we are happy when we achieve one victory,” Lopetegui said. “Now we have to manage and to handle these problems for the next big challenge against Liverpool.”
Alphonse Areola performed well in goal against the Saints in place of Fabianski, who took a nasty blow to the face in the 29th minute.
Jean-Clair Todibo, meanwhile, impressed after he replaced Kilman.