LFC Live - Arne Slot gives Alexander Isak and Liverpool transfers update amid double injury boost

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Arne Slot speaks at this morning's press conference to preview Liverpool's big match with Arsenal

Arne Slot jokingly said it was "very nice" for Eddie Howe that Newcastle United were closing in on the signing of Nick Woltemade.

With the wantaway Isak currently unavailable for selection, that is a huge boost for manager Howe, especially seeing Anthony Gordon will serve a three-match ban following his sending off in Monday's thrilling 3-2 loss to Liverpool at St James' Park.

READ MORE:What needs to happen for Liverpool to seal Alexander Isak transfer after £77m twistREAD MORE:Liverpool have clear area of concern going into Arsenal match

And quizzed if the move for Woltemade could aid the Reds' chances of signing the Sweden international, head coach Slot said at this morning's press conference: "Newcastle have signed - if it's true - a new No.9, so that's very nice for Eddie because Anthony Gordon is suspended and Isak has not been training with the team a lot.

"So it's nice for them to have another number nine."

Slot continued: "After Monday evening, I said that again I could make a substitution that impacted the game.

That's what Federico (Chiesa) did against Bournemouth and Rio (Ngumoha) did against Newcastle.

"As always we try to sign players that can help us but there's no reason after the first two games to complain.

"But if we can strengthen the squad then we always try to do that for the right player and right player.

"There's only three-four days to go now, so let's see if we do something and if we do something, what we can do."

On Sunday (August 31), Liverpool welcome Arsenal, the team they beat to the Premier League title last season, to Anfield

Slot confirmed that Alexis Mac Allister, who missed the Newcastle match, and Conor Bradley, who came on during it, have both trained this week, and that captain Virgil van Dijk was fine after being on the end of the Gordon tackle that saw the former Everton winger be sent off.

Slot said: "The positive is that Conor Bradley only had one or two training sessions before the Newcastle game but he has trained all this week.

Alexis has started training too.

"I don’t think we had any injuries coming out of the game.

And Virgil is also okay, which is maybe the main thing you would question."

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