On Liverpool’s start to the season…
“I think the position in the table and results don’t show the performances they’ve maybe had. I think they pull teams really close in a lot of games. They have a very clear identity, very forward thinking and front footed, in terms of how they want to play - and that's obviously Gareth’s implementation on the squad. We know it's going to be a tough game, we know they're probably chomping at the bit to want to get a result and they want to get a win. We need to make sure that we step up, we perform and we make sure we make it difficult for them.”
On what to expect from Liverpool…
“I think they have very clear identity, as I said, and I know Gareth is very strong on that and I like that he's strong on that because he believes in what he does. So, we need to make sure if opportunity presents itself in those moments, when they do build out, or they're in higher phases, and we get opportunity to break and have chances on goal, we need to make sure we take them. There's obviously areas that we'll look at, but it's not just that one area because I feel we can exploit other areas at the same time.”
On the squad’s togetherness…
“I think togetherness, for me, is probably above the results and the performance -it goes above individual quality, in my opinion, and I think team cohesion is key. If you get that right, it can get you over the line in numerous games, you can also bring an extra level and extra bit of energy into your performances. We've definitely showed that throughout the season so far, in the games we've had in the Cup and the League, and we want to make sure we continue to build on that. We work together to make sure that the players and the staff are connected, they do a lot of work as a group to make sure they're connected, so we need to make sure that we use that to our advantage. It's a big part of what I want to create here and the environment I want to create.”
On the international break…
“It was good. The break probably came around the right time to refresh, re-energise and reflect on the first eight games we've had, so it was important for me to be able to see what we've done. Not just on a result's perspective, but performance overall in terms of technically, tactically, physically, and where I need to make sure that we better the team and where I can be better as an individual. I think it came at the right time and the players going to represent their countries is brilliant. It's another opportunity for me to see them in a different context, in a different environment, and making sure they go away healthy and they come back healthy.”
On the current mood in the squad…
“We know we have a really strong block of games coming up now and my job is to make sure that everyone's now back collectively together. We continue to enhance performance, competition in the squad, competition in each position, and making sure now that we really try to lift our performances and start to complete them a lot more from start to finish - and I think that’s something we need to do. But there's a lot of ways we can still be better. We’re still growing as a team, but I think we've got to start putting those performances together now, from the first minute to the 90th.”
On whether the momentum is broken up by the international break…
“It maybe breaks it slightly, but I think the players getting the opportunity to go and be in a different environment, a different space, I think is important because they'll get so long where they’re in the same environment for so long. So, it's actually good for them to refresh, and for staff collectively to refresh. Now, going into these games, we’re making sure that we are fully focussed on what the job is ahead.”
