Jurgen Klopp press conference - Liverpool injury news, Arne Slot reaction, Diogo Jota update

Klopp on Slot

Here's what Jurgen Klopp has had to say on Arne Slot this morning:

I didn't read anything but Arne has said something. I am not involved, club-wise. I would like a lot that if he is the one he wants to take the job and is excited. I like his team's style, all I hear about him as a guy. Some people I know tell me. Good coach. All sounds really good to me. Best job and club in the world. And healthy, space for improvement. Fantastic people."

Full story from Theo Squires

Key points

- Feels responsible for Everton defeat

- Arne Slot a "good coach" who will be taking on "the best job in the world" if appointed

- No returns for Diogo Jota or Conor Bradley

Klopp on injuries

Diogo and Conor not ready, nobody told me they will start training soon."

Klopp on Salah and Nunez

Strikers not scoring...it's tricky. They have to go through this, it's a striker's life. It's the most difficult thing in the world. We've had good chances v Everton, a bit in a rush to finish them off, so head down, create again and again and try to finish the situations, but if there's one solution to bring a player back to his best, the man who writes that book would be really rich. I try to help them through and speed it up but it says nothing about the boys. Our timing is not fantastic for that and we've not been great. I am sorry for that but now we start again. Four games to go."

Klopp

I would not assess my season now. I am not in the mood to wave the white flag, we just look after ourselves. Why should we be champion when we play like the Everton game? But before then we played really well, went for it, we were a real pain for everyone, squeezed out results or played well. We deserve to be where we are and now we have to use it. We don't want to feel the pressure for whatever reason. The boys are incredible players and it is my job to create an atmosphere where they can be the best. And that is where I have failed. Not sure where it happened but I didn't see anything of what we want to be at Everton. Now we try to be much more like ourselves."

Klopp

I don't have time to speak to David Moyes too much but we speak at games and I like him, he is doing a great job, really talented team, good transfers, Bowen one my favourite players, Paqueta, super-talented, Antonio, top striker. When Bowen is up there they find a solution, Ward-Prowse super signing for West Ham. I heard one press conference when he asked what he expected West Ham to achieve. Six teams have to [finish above them] so seventh is there and I think he is doing a ridiculously good job. That is it."

Klopp

We take it step by step, we play in 24 hours pretty much and that is the first game we take. Then we have a week, which is a long turnaround. Nobody has given up we just need to be realistic. Both them need to lose and we need to win four. They didn't lose two games since when? So why would it be now. We just have to be there if it happens. So that is it. That's the approach, I didn't like our football but I hope to be more positive."

Klopp on Slot

"I didn't read anything but Arne has said something. I am not involved, club-wise. I would like a lot that if he is the one he wants to take the job and is excited. I like his team's style, all I hear about him as a guy. Some people I know tell me. Good coach. All sounds really good to me. Best job and club in the world. And healthy, space for improvement. Fantastic people."

Klopp

Of course I [take responsibility for derby]. We can mention a lot. Is it possible we are tired? Yes, a long season, players coming back from injuries, Trent, for example, but we need him. Can he be on top of his game? Probably not. Alisson out for a long time, tough schedule, one or two not in their best moments. But inexperience as well. Did anyone expect us to become champions? No. We have to go to Villa and Tottenham and we want Champions League. No-one here is happy at all - and Villa are rightly happy - but just to explain how different it is. We cannot say this is good enough. It is but of course we are very disappointed and we cannot change that. The defeat is bad if you don't learn from it The boys have to learn from it next year, with a new manager next season but they can use this. Now let's hope we can use this in the short term for the next game."

Klopp:

It's definitely the job and it's a challenge, I cannot remember being as frustrated after a game as I was on Wednesday. I have been frustrated in my life but it was special. Arsenal and City are playing positive football and we are where we are in the table because we are capable of that too. I am responsible for the mood and I wouldn't say we are in the best place now, we lost the decisive battles at Goodison Park, really bad. But in general it's been a few weeks where we haven't played positive football. It always feels like we are playing catch-up for something. A quick turnaround and we have to be positive. I will try my absolute everything so I can enjoy our football again because that was not positive on Wednesday. I am pretty sure City and Arsenal see it as a two-horse race. They might say something differently in publicly but I don't expect them to lose two games. We have to be there if they do, starting with West Ham. They lost their last game, so they have to show a reaction, we have to. So let's see."

Klopp:

on Gakpo: "Everything is fine with the new-born, all is well, he is back in training."

Any chance, Jurgen?

Klopp is surprisingly late for this one. Most unusual for him when it comes to his press conferences.

He'll be with us any minute now, I'm sure.

Klopp imminent

Jurgen Klopp will be with us in ten minutes.

Difficult to know what might be on the agenda this morning, there are few injury updates to give but the fallout from Wednesday night's Merseyside derby might continue.

Be interesting to see if anyone asks him about Arne Slot.

We'll find out soon enough.

Arne Slot latest

A deal for Arne Slot is expected imminently.

Liverpool and Feyenoord have been locked in negotiations and senior officials expect a deal to go through, with a record fee for a manager wanted by the Dutch club.

Here's Paul Gorst with the latest.

Stand by to hear what Jurgen Klopp has got to say about the Dutchman.

Slot speaks out on Liverpool manager links

Arne Slot has confirmed that he wants to become the new manager of Liverpool.

Speaking on Thursday night, the Dutchman said: “Well, I think it’s obvious that I would like to join Liverpool. I’ve had a great time at Feyenoord, but if Liverpool come calling it’d be strange if I wouldn’t think of that as a great next step.

“I’ll get to talk with Liverpool once the clubs have reached an agreement. I’ll have to wait. Everybody understands Feyenoord will want to receive as much money as they can get, but I get the feeling that they will not begrudge me this move.

“The only thing I can say about it is that the clubs are in negotiations. And then you sit in the waiting room and wait for what will come out. The clubs have to do their job and then I’m waiting and as the ‘main character’ I have to respect that. I expect that things will become clearer over the next few days.”

Liverpool face ruthless summer transfers

Liverpool's Merseyside derby defeat to Everton hammered home the deficiencies that remain in Jurgen Klopp's squad this season.

And one area of the team that supporters are currently debating is the forward line, with Mohamed Salah out of sorts and Darwin Nunez misfiring.

So what shall Klopp's successor do with Liverpool's frontline? Our writers have their say here.

Good Morning

Good morning and welcome to the Liverpool ECHO's live coverage of Jurgen Klopp's pre-West Ham United press conference.

The Reds boss is likely to discuss his squad's reaction to the chastening Merseyside derby defeat to Everton on Wednesday evening, as well as look ahead to that game against the Hammers.

There will be the latest injury news, with Diogo Jota currently sidelined with a problem, and Klopp is likely to be asked about his potential successor, which is looking increasingly likely to be Feyenoord boss Arne Slot.