Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed confidence in his team despite the club’s lack of transfer activity this summer. Slot, who took over from Jurgen Klopp at the end of last season, believes he has inherited a “very good team” and is not concerned about the lack of new signings.
“I trust the team,” Slot said. “I’ve said before, I have inherited a very good team, with young players. We trust them a lot. They proved that they have earned our trust.”
Liverpool are the only team in the Premier League yet to make a signing this summer. Spain international Martin Zubimendi rejected the opportunity to leave Real Sociedad, while a deal for Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is reportedly close but would see the Georgian stay at the Mestalla this season on loan.
Slot takes charge of his first competitive game at Anfield on Sunday when Brentford are the visitors. The Dutchman said he is focused on getting the three points and is not feeling the nerves of having to impress the home fans.
“I am not nervous at all,” Slot said. “Certainly not at this moment because I’m in the middle of preparation, prepare the team for Sunday. It wouldn’t be a good thing if you have nerves. I trust what me and my staff do to prepare the team in the best possible way. I trust the team a lot.”
Liverpool’s window has been more dominated by sales. Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho have joined Brentford for combined fees of close to £50 million, while Bobby Clark has joined Red Bull Salzburg. England defender Joe Gomez has also been linked with a move away before the transfer deadline in a week’s time.
Slot is keen for Gomez to stay put, saying: “At this moment I am expecting everyone to be here. (But) everything can change. He didn’t play a lot in the Euros and when he came back in the first sessions he couldn’t train the whole session, so we had to manage his load and that was also a bit (of) a reason why he wasn’t in the team on Saturday. But this week he had a good week in terms of load and how much he could do with the team. He is one of the players that I see new things from and learn things what I see from him.”
