Arne Slot Asserts No Rest for Liverpool Stars Ahead of Girona Clash

As Liverpool prepares to face Girona in the Champions League, manager Arne Slot has made it clear that there will be no rotation of key players, despite the team's strong position in the group. Liverpool currently leads the group with 15 points from five matches, but Slot emphasizes the importance of maintaining momentum and securing the highest possible ranking.

"Our goal is to advance to the next stage in the highest position possible, and therefore we need to secure three points in this match," Slot stated. "It doesn't matter to us which team we face in the next round; this is the first tournament with the new format, and we don't know if it's better to finish first or in a lower rank. In any case, to ensure progression, we still need three more points, so we are focused solely on winning against Girona."

Addressing the recent postponement of the Merseyside derby against Everton due to adverse weather conditions, Slot noted, "Even if the game against Everton hadn't been canceled, we would still have approached the Girona match with our main lineup. The postponement was a very good decision, as ensuring the safety of people during the last derby at Goodison Park was important."

On the potential advantage of bypassing the playoff stage and advancing directly to the Round of 16, Slot commented, "If we top the group, I feel that Arsenal and Manchester City will also be in good positions. Although City needs more points, they are a team capable of achieving three consecutive wins. I don't know if this is an advantage or not, but we've been playing almost every three days, and it hasn't been bad. Perhaps if we advance as one of the top eight teams, we might need to schedule friendly matches for the days we don't have games."

Slot also praised Girona's recent performances, stating, "Considering their budget, Girona's performance shows that they have a very good coach. This season, despite the results, they have performed very well in matches. I see their performance last season as similar to Leicester City, with the difference that they fell short of winning the title."

In a positive development for Liverpool, goalkeeper Alisson Becker has returned to the squad after recovering from injury. Slot expressed his satisfaction, saying, "Fortunately, Alisson's injury has healed, and he is back in the team's list. Having our first-choice goalkeeper available is a very good thing, but when you look at his replacement's performance, you realize that Caoimhin Kelleher couldn't have done better. We expect some of the controversies to subside. Kelleher has been excellent during this period, and I can say that we have two very good goalkeepers who can carry the work forward effectively."