With two wins in a row, Liverpool have every reason to approach the match against Tottenham Hotspur with confidence. Manager Arne Slot looked confident and relaxed at his press conference and had good news, for example, about Cody Gakpo.
With two wins in a row, Liverpool have every reason to approach Saturday evening’s match away to Tottenham Hotspur with confidence. Kick off is at six thirty pm on the twentieth of December two thousand and twenty five, and Arne Slot looked both relaxed and assured as he faced the media ahead of the fixture.
Slot had barely taken his seat before being asked about the much discussed Mohamed Salah. The Liverpool manager stressed that the winger’s focus has to be fully on the Africa Cup of Nations, while the club concentrates on its own schedule. Slot pointed out that Salah had been involved recently and was the first player he brought on against Brighton and Hove Albion, but that he is now playing important matches at the tournament, making it essential that both player and club keep their attention on their separate priorities.
There was more encouraging news regarding Cody Gakpo, who has been monitored closely. Slot explained that the forward has undergone a scan and that the results were promising, which has significantly reduced the level of concern inside the club compared to earlier fears. Even so, Slot made it clear that Gakpo will not be available for the trip to Tottenham and will also miss next week’s Premier League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He did leave the door open to a slightly quicker return than initially expected, but confirmed that the immediate focus is on recovery rather than taking risks.
Slot also delivered a clear update on the rest of the squad. Jeremie Frimpong returns to the matchday group and will be part of the selection options for the Tottenham game, providing Slot with an extra alternative in wide areas. Joe Gomez, however, will not be included, reducing Liverpool’s defensive depth for what is usually an intense and high tempo encounter in North London.
Beyond the fitness bulletin, Slot spoke about Liverpool’s uneven form this season and why he believes the team is trending in the right direction. He argued that Liverpool have too often had to rely on players who were technically available but not fully prepared for the sustained intensity of a full Premier League match. In his view, that has improved in recent weeks, and the team’s performances have started to rise in line with the players’ physical readiness. Slot framed that progress as a foundation to build on, especially for a squad that experienced significant changes during the summer.
The manager also suggested that the level Liverpool have shown so far should not be the ceiling. Slot said he expects more from the group and pointed to refereeing decisions that, in his view, have gone against Liverpool on several occasions. He referenced a recent moment where he believed a red card should have been shown, though he noted that it did not end up causing problems in that particular match. His broader message was that Liverpool need to reach a standard where individual officiating calls no longer determine outcomes, because the team’s overall level would be strong enough to overcome such moments.
The visit to Tottenham therefore arrives at an interesting moment for Liverpool. The recent run of results has lifted confidence, but the absence of key figures and the ongoing process of building consistency will be tested against a Spurs side that typically forces opponents into high tempo phases and open transitions. Slot’s comments, however, indicate that he sees Liverpool moving toward the physical and performance baseline he wants, and that the club believes the next step is turning those improvements into a more dependable level, starting with a demanding away fixture under the lights.
