Liverpool

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Newcastle at Anfield (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Jeremie Frimpong will be sidelined for "a few weeks" as his injury is "not as bad" as it seemed when he was forced off early against Qarabag.

• Ibrahima Konate, who has been out since the death of his father, will return against Newcastle and Curtis Jones is also available after recovering from illness.

• Alexander Isak is yet to train on the pitch following his leg fracture.

• Slot shut down any talk of potential transfers before Monday's deadline: "If we have addressed a player that we think can help us and the figure is possible then we will do so. Those are conversations that take place not far away from here, but not in this room."

• He said Newcastle "will be a bigger challenge" than Qarabag and it "is a crucial game" for both sides as they fight for a top-four finish. Slot added: "There is not a lot of room for mistakes anymore."

• On the race for the Champions League nearing its key run-in: "It's obvious that the closer you come to the end, the less chance you have to make a mistake. We are now in a position that we cannot afford a lot of mistakes anymore because we have made far too many. When I say mistakes I mean giving away goals in the last minutes, or we don't do any justice on the performance in terms of the score. So it is clear and obvious that the closer you come to the end then there is not a lot of room for mistakes anymore."

• On whether anything will change for Harvey Elliott before deadline day: "It was very pleasing to see him on the pitch again yesterday but his situation is that he is an Aston Villa player at this moment of time."

• He said Jayden Danns "has had a lot of setbacks" in his career as he "has faced a lot of injuries", adding: "He has been very unlucky but he will fight back and come back. We will get to know him the minute he is fit again."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Ask us questions about Liverpool and we'll put them to our experts

Josh Sexton
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

"Possession is 9/10ths of the law…"

An old football cliche that was pooh-poohed by legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger many years ago, but one that seems to be continually disproven with every Premier League season that has passed since.

This campaign, especially, it seems that teams have been able to get the better of their opponent by dragging them into some kind of set-piece dogfight. Scramble a team's Plan A first and, instead, leave it almost solely up to the bounce of a launched-in ball and their mental fortitude.

How long are teams prepared to stand by the idea that they're playing the right football? And is 90 minutes even long enough to stand by that idea with just how talented and resolute most teams up and down the league are these days?

This is evidenced further by the fact that five of the Champions League's top eight teams of the league phase were English. Almost as if being talented and tactically sound equips them better for more expansive teams on a bigger stage than breaking down a low-block when you're the scalp.

Mental fortitude is an area that Liverpool have found themselves lacking this season. Some of it is completely understandable - and anybody who has ever experienced loss will have surely felt less resilient to everyday challenges in the aftermath.

Some of it, though, has been an unwillingness to back themselves and their tactics, and to believe that they can still come out on top even when the chips are down.

Bournemouth felt like a microcosm of that: a less-talented, yet still very good, team that believed Arne Slot's side would give them chances.

Sir Alex Ferguson was credited with saying that his sides didn't drop points, but ran out of time to win. Yet on the South Coast, it felt as though Bournemouth were the side who were prepared to stick to their tactics, believe, and accept that they just ran out of time if it didn't go their way.

Liverpool fans will have become all too familiar with the sight of ending games with every attacking option on the field, as they throw caution to the wind to desperately claw back momentum without any real plan or structure. It's that mentality which has cost them in the long term.

It's why belief is absolutely crucial to anything the Reds can go on to achieve this season. Things have gone their way in the Champions League so far, but at some point they won't, and if they crumble like they have done time and again in the league, they can kiss goodbye to being able to call this season a success.

Believe, though, and who knows what can happen?

Find more from Josh Sexton on outlets including The Anfield Wrap, external

Arne Slot has repeatedly referenced Liverpool's struggles against a "low block" this season, angering some fans with the consistency with which he raises the issue.

But BBC Sport has considered data which shows the Reds have indeed faced a low block more than any other side in the Premier League - in 26% of matches.

Furthermore, the Reds are coming up against sides who sit deep and play long, as the data above shows.

Take a look at the article in full, where our tactics expert says the Reds can counter these tactics if they brush up in other areas. The loss of Jeremie Frimpong to injury is however a blow when it comes to taking on these sides who drop deep.

There's plenty to read on it here

Ask us questions about Liverpool and we'll put them to our experts

Image source, Getty Images

Jurgen Klopp will join Sir Kenny Dalglish and his management team for this year's LFC Foundation Legends charity match against Borussia Dortmund.

The ex-Liverpool boss will return to the Anfield dugout to take up the assistant manager role, alongside former Reds Ian Rush and John Aldridge.

Klopp also managed Dortmund between 2008 and 2015 where he won the German giants their first ever domestic double.

It will be the first time the two clubs have faced each other in any capacity since their dramatic Europa League quarter-final meeting in 2016.

The match is on Saturday, 28 March and the funds raised will support LFC Foundation's employability programmes.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike has confirmed he could have joined Newcastle United in the summer but he always knew where he wanted to go.

BBC Radio Merseyside asked the 23-year-old just how close the Magpies got to securing his signature. "You're in trouble," Ekitike said.

"No, obviously, we were close [to a move] but I made my choice. I knew where I wanted to come and I'm where I wanted to come and that's all I can give to you."

When asked if Newcastle fans might give him a bit of stick on Saturday at Anfield he replied: "I don't care, I play for Liverpool and I have my fans here.

"We've played there already [at St James' Park] and we won so hopefully we'll have a great week of working and I don't care about this - I just want to play and that's the most important thing."

Florian Wirtz also joined Liverpool in the summer and the pair have already assisted each other five times this term.

"I gave him a lot of assists, he needs to give them back now," Ekitike joked.

"As I've said before, he's a great player, I love to play with that kind of player and feeling like we can do that and continue each game and keep scoring and giving assists to each other."

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

Ian Kennedy
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

Image source, Getty Images

One of the big positives for Liverpool from Wednesday's win over Qarabag was not so much the six goals they scored, it was the fact they can now put the Champions League to bed until the last-16 ties in March.

Yes, there is the FA Cup to think about, but the main focus will be on getting their league form right and getting back into that top four.

After the defeat at Bournemouth, the Reds are playing catch up again - now behind both Manchester United and Chelsea, and a full 10 points behind third-placed Aston Villa. Not playing European games for a while will be a relief of sorts.

But it is another huge game on Saturday night at home to Newcastle.

Arne Slot spoke about getting it right at both ends of the pitch to have a successful end to the season. Games against Newcastle usually provide plenty of goals, but the concern will be about keeping it tight at the back, especially with Jeremie Frimpong picking up an injury two minutes into Wednesday's victory and Joe Gomez remaining doubtful for the weekend.

Whether Liverpool bring anyone in defensively before the transfer window closes remains to be seen.

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Liverpool match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

Explore Liverpool content on BBC Sounds

We asked for your views on Wednesday's Champions League game between Liverpool and Qarabag.

Here are some of your comments:

Graeme: Fun - with apologies to the visitors. Funny too, as some criticise the Champions League format but it has much more jeopardy than endless Premier League games.

Richard: What a Jekyll and Hyde team we have. In the Premier League, we struggle like hell to beat mid-table teams. In Europe, no problems and play together as a team with 100% confidence.

Stuart: Such dreadful luck for Frimpong after two minutes. But Endo worked tirelessly to fill in. Ekitike, Wirtz and Salah linked up well. Szoboszlai and Mac Allister controlled the centre of the pitch, while Van Dijk mopped up at the back. Finally a game where players could enjoy themselves, entertain and then have a few minutes' rest, with the youngsters coming on gaining a valuable bit of experience.

Stephen: Wonderful performance in Europe. If they can start performing like this in the Premier league, then we will be challenging next season with everyone hopefully back.

Jack: Great performance - controlled, composed and great goals. Fantastic to see some of the youngsters getting given a chance, even more great to see Chiesa getting another goal. A brilliant performance and we are comfortably through. Well done, Arne!

Nathan: We were due a win like that and the fans deserved it. You will get some who say "it's only Qarabag" but you can only beat what's in front of you. Another setback though squad-wise and Frimpong coming off injured after two minutes is a big problem. This squad is looking desperate for reinforcements at the back!

Gary: It's a team from Azerbaijan - please, guys, let's not put the league-winning manager's mask on. We play Newcastle Saturday - beware.

Colin: A decent performance against a very weak team. However, the next two Premier League matches are critical. It is hard to see us getting any points in either of those games.

Have you got a question about Liverpool or is there a Reds topic you want more information on? Get in touch here

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool's faithful old friend the Champions League has provided respite amid their domestic troubles. So could it now rescue their season as they chase a seventh triumph in the competition?

For all their troubles in the Premier League, Liverpool have looked much more at home in Europe, Wednesday's 6-0 win over Qarabag ensuring an automatic place in the last 16 without the need for a play-off.

And history tells us Liverpool, with the Anfield factor added to the equation, will fancy their chances in the knockout phase.

It is a stretch to paint this Liverpool team, on current form, as anything like potential Champions League winners, but they must never be underestimated in a two-legged format.

It will not turn the spotlight away from Arne Slot with Liverpool so off-colour in the league, but this was as easy as it gets in Europe. Qarabag were compliant opponents, not made of the stuff that enables Premier League opposition to scent blood in almost every game against his side.

It was Slot's biggest winning margin as Liverpool manager, in his 91st game in charge, and their biggest victory since March 2023, when they won 7-0 against Manchester United.

It was a landmark night for Mohamed Salah, making his 80th Champions League appearance for Liverpool to equal Jamie Carragher's club record.

Of greater significance was that he produced a touch of vintage Salah to ensure he surrounded himself with a different, more satisfying noise, than he has heard this season.

The Egyptian had been fouled on the edge of the area, making Qarabag pay when he took Dominik Szoboszlai's quick touch to send a curving left-foot free-kick past goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski into the top corner.

He took the acclaim of his team-mates before standing with arms outstretched in front of the Kop before tapping the badge on his red shirt, smiling broadly after the turmoil he has been through this season.

After the final whistle, he was back in the same place offering his thanks to Liverpool's supporters on a rare recent night of joy.

It capped an evening of straightforward celebration in a season of tumult for Salah, Slot and Liverpool.

Champions League pundits Stephen Warnock and Julien Laurens discuss how Hugo Ekitike has become the standout signing in Arne Slot's Liverpool side.

Pundits Stephen Warnock, Nedum Onuoha and Julien Laurens join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Wednesday's dramatic league phase finale in the Champions League.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man City 2-0 Galatasary

• Napoli 2-3 Chelsea

• Paris St-Germain 1-1 Newcastle

Liverpool boss Arne Slot, speaking to Uefa after reaching the last 16: "Great result and a good performance as well.

"It took another player. When I said yesterday or two days ago, maybe because we won the league because we went out, I meant it because we could play with the best team. We have a lot of muscle injuries. We are doing a double program with a lot of players who aren't used to that."

On Jeremie Frimpong's injury and whether it could lead to moving in the transfer market: "He will be out for a period of time. If you have a problem and have to go off like that, that usually tells you straight away. Let's wait and see what the upcoming days can bring.

"We didn't have a bad five, six or seven minutes. That's usually how we have it in the other games but we didn't have that. We were 6-0 up and they had one counter attack but I saw my players back.

"I think I've said many times that players are developing and that's also because of them. They work really hard to be able to play every three days.

"I took them off to give them rest ahead of Newcastle. It is development and that's what the club knew when we made many changes in the summer."

Hear more from Slot on BBC Sounds

Did you know?

• Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk became the first central defender ever to assist three goals in a single Champions League game.

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Mohamed Salah's season of turmoil took a turn for the better in the most comfortable and untroubled game Liverpool have had this season.

The loss at Bournemouth placed Arne Slot and his players under severe scrutiny once more in what has become a dismal defence of their Premier League title.

The Champions League has, however, been a happier hunting ground as Liverpool followed their 3-0 win in Marseille by ruthlessly dismissing Qarabag.

And for Salah it was a night when he again felt the affection of the Liverpool fans, who worship him for his stellar contributions to their recent successes.

He had not scored in his previous eight appearances for Liverpool, and how he needed a goal after tumultuous events that have surrounded him, especially his Elland Road outburst when he claimed he had been "thrown under the bus" by the club and Slot by being left out.

And his joy was clear after scoring, turning to the Kop with arms outstretched before tapping the badge on his Liverpool shirt.

Slot enjoyed that moment - and plenty of others - as Liverpool made sure early on there would be no shocks or mistakes by setting up the victory with two early goals.

Liverpool's win does not answer many of the questions that still surround Slot after so many poor performances, but this win, and the place in the last 16 that goes with it, will not do self-confidence or self-belief any harm - and the Dutch head coach will welcome that.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Get in touch with your views here

Come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies

Arne Slot has made two changes to the Liverpool side that won 3-0 away at Marseille.

Milos Kerkez and Joe Gomez miss out while Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo come in.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Frimpong, Gravenberch, Van Dijk, Robertson, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Endo, Kerkez, Chiesa, Nyoni, Nallo, Morrison, Ngumoha

Qarabag XI: Kochalski, Cafarquliyev, Medina, Mustafazada, Silva, Jankovic, Bicalho, Zoubir, Montiel, Andrade, Duran

Subs: Mmaee, Kouakou, Akhundzada, Addai, Bolt, Kashchuk, Qurbanli, Bayramov, A. Huseynov, B. Huseynov, Ramazanov, Buntic

There are 18 games in the Champions League on Wednesday as the league phase reaches its climax and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Ajax v Olympiacos

• Arsenal v Kairat Almaty

• Athletic Club v Sporting

• Atletico Madrid v Bodo/Glimt

• Barcelona v Copenhagen

• Bayer Leverkusen v Villarreal

• Benfica v Real Madrid

• Borussia Dortmund v Inter Milan

• Club Brugge v Marseille

• Eintracht Frankfurt v Tottenham

• Liverpool v Qarabag

• Manchester City v Galatasaray - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Monaco v Juventus

• Napoli v Chelsea- listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• PSV Eindhoven v Bayern Munich

• Pafos v Slavia Prague

• Paris St-Germain v Newcastle - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Union Saint-Gilloise v Atalanta

Kick-off times 20:00 GMT

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Napoli v Chelsea" or "ask BBC Sounds to play PSG v Newcastle", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.

Grace Wheeler
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool fan Dan Clubbe believes that any result - regardless of the competition - can have an effect on manager Arne Slot's future at the club.

Slot has been in the firing line from fans over some of his side's recent performances in all competitions.

Liverpool have lost seven games so far in this Premier League season with Saturday's 3-2 loss at Bournemouth being their latest defeat.

Clubbe said on BBC 5 Live Breakfast: "He [Arne Slot] is under immense pressure and - certainly amongst the fanbase - the recent departure of Real Madrid's manager Xabi Alonso has only intensified that.

"It has also ramped up the scrutiny on Slot and every word he says is analysed in press conferences now."

Clubbe added: "I do think now every result in every competition is hugely important, because if we do eventually fall out of the Champions League then that would be a huge red cross against his name."

Liverpool have had better form in the Champions League than the Premier League - sitting fourth in the 36-team table.

The fan said: "It feels like our Champions League form is holding firm compared to domestically and it's nights like tonight that have given us respite in many ways.

"We are just trying to navigate our way through a disappointing spell and it probably goes further back that that."

Liverpool play Qarabag tonight in their final Champions League league phase match

Matt Jones
BBC Sport journalist

Victory at Anfield on Wednesday would not only put Liverpool in the last 16 but ensure they almost certainly end the league phase in third or fourth spot – crucially, that earns them a second leg at home for the next round and any quarter-final.

A draw may well be enough to stay in the top eight, though it would mean eight teams could overtake them (only one of Paris St-Germain and Newcastle can do so as they play each other). The Reds can afford to drop four places - however, their goal difference is the joint worst in the top eight and leaves them vulnerable.

Lose and Arne Slot's side will be relying on favourable results in at least six of the 10 fixtures involving clubs who can catch them. If Liverpool drop into the play-offs they will at least have home advantage in the second leg by virtue of being seeded for finishing in the top 16.

Did you know?

• This will be the first meeting between the two sides in European competition

• Qarabag lost all seven of their games against English teams in European competition before a 2-2 draw with Chelsea.

Image source, Getty Images

Key Qarabag players - Camilo Duran

The Colombian forward has four goals and an assist in the Champions League. He grabbed a goal and assist in the team's historic win at Benfica. He bagged two in the Eintracht Frankfurt victory that kept qualification hopes alive.

Duran also scored a brilliant chip in the 4-2 defeat to Ajax, lobbing goalkeeper Vítezslav Jaros who is on loan from Liverpool.

Qarabag squad summary

Qarabag made 11 changes at the weekend and lost 2-0 to Kapaz. They are now four points off leaders Sabah in the league. Defender Badavi Guseynov and midfielder Kady Borges are expected to be the only absentees.

Left-back Toral Bayramov has scored eight goals in all competitions this season. Only forward Leandro Andrade (9) has more.

Liverpool have been "consistent" in not being "very good", says The Observer's Rory Smith.

"In the league they have not been convincing," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

Smith thinks the Reds' problems are coming from an inability to control games and create, which creates pressure situations late on in fixtures.

"They are not creating anything," Smith adds. "Alan Shearer is right, they are soft at the back. There's just no control, no shape, no sense of they know how to win matches anymore."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds