Anfield is the stage for the conclusion to the last-four tie as Slot's Reds attempt to overcome the 1-0 deficit from last month's encounter at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and secure their Wembley spot.
See the best bits from the head coach at Wednesday morning's briefing below…
On his review of the January transfer window...
I've said it many times, we have a very good squad and if you look at the league table I think the players have shown that the trust we have in them was correct and – apart from Trent [Alexander-Arnold] now maybe for a few days – we don't have many injuries, not long-term injuries, in moments that the window is open. So, we did have some injury problems with Alisson [Becker], with [Diogo] Jota and with some others. But at the moment I think – apart from Trent – they are all available again today, so there's not a reason to add something to the team unless you have a chance in the market. That's something we saw last time with the goalkeeper we brought in which is not here but we did bring him in because we saw that as a chance in the market. But for now we are happy with the team we have.
Trent Alexander-Arnold injury update ahead of Liverpool v Tottenham
On whether he will prepare the players differently for the Tottenham game...
No, I don't think I have to prepare them differently than in any other game. Because from now until the end of the season, it's been already the whole season, and I think as long as Liverpool exists, if you play in this shirt, you need to win the game. That's for tomorrow, that's for Sunday, that's for Wednesday afterwards and the game after that. Even if we go 1-0 down in the league or whatever tournament we are in, we try and want to win the game. That's also what we tried in the away game against Tottenham – I think we were quite close to getting a result over there until the last few seconds, we were down to 10 and conceded a goal. Nothing changes for this game compared to others. If you wear this shirt, if you go out at Anfield, there is only one thing that is expected of you – and that's winning the game.
On the 29-day gap between the first and second leg...
Not that it matters a lot but if you play one week later then normally you face exactly the same team again. Now with all the injuries Tottenham had last time we played them, it would have been a bit more in our advantage if we played them one week later again, although we lost against the ones that were fit that time. But indeed they did bring in three players [in the transfer window], the goalkeeper was already there, so now we face two different ones. I wonder if Micky van de Ven is ready to play – he, of course, has a big impact on that team. It might change the quality we face tomorrow compared to the last time but we were already not able to win from the team that played last time. So, it's going to be a difficult one, which we know. If you reach the semi-final against Tottenham, you know it's going to be a difficult one. But I think we will be better than the last time as well.
On whether he is happy for his centre-forward to be a 'facilitator' or whether he wants more goals from the player he selects there…
I will be happy if that player becomes both. 'Facilitator', nice word, I didn't know that one yet, and scoring goals himself – that is, again, what we want to achieve in the end. But I also saw the penalty from Cody [Gakpo] where Lucho [Luis Diaz] as a nine played a part without even touching the ball. So, he dragged the centre-back out which led to the fact that Cody was in a one-v-one and he made a deep run and got tripped, which led to the penalty. In the end you want attackers [and] midfielders to score, we've spoken about our attacking midfielder as well.
We need to get goals from many positions, including them [and] including centre-backs that can score from set-pieces also. So, that's what I just said, we are trying to work on the training ground and with the feedback we give them after the game to make team better and better and better and in the end, the No.9 should be a facilitator, like a winger, but a winger and a No.9 should also score goals.
On if he has decided on whether Alisson Becker or Caoimhin Kelleher will start on Thursday.…
I know, but the two goalkeepers don't know yet. So if I am going to leave this room I am going to go to the media next door and then afterwards I'm going to inform the goalkeepers which decision I have made.
On how he tells senior players when they will not be involved in matchday squads…
That is one of the only things I don't understand here in England. Everywhere around the world, and in Europe as well when we play Champions League, we can take 23 players to the game and we are here in a country where we play the most games – especially the likes of Aston Villa, us, Arsenal, Chelsea, all the ones that are playing in Europe – and we have the League Cup over here and we have the FA Cup. So, we play so, so many games, so if you are able to play all these games you need a big squad. That seems to fair to me and then one of the things that is so important for a manager, so to pick the first XI is difficult, to tell someone that he is not even in the squad makes it even harder. So, I don't understand why we don't go to 23 in this country because this country plays the most games everywhere around the world and we only have 20 players that we can take to the games.
So, it's not for that game, because nine substitutes are more than enough, but to keep the dressing room going because you need more than 20 players in this country because we play so many games. Do you then understand what I mean? So, it's not for this one game, it's for a team like us or Arsenal or ones that play in Europe you need more than 20 players, so why can't we bring 23 players to the game instead of 20? But since it is the rule over here that is probably going to be the most difficult decision I have to make – not the first XI, but to leave someone out that worked so hard on a daily basis, that wants to be involved in the game as well. Not even taking him to the game, that's the hardest decision for me to make.
