NewsArne Slot press conference: Community Shield, transfers, forward options and more

The Reds head coach spoke to reporters at the AXA Training Centre on Friday morning to preview his side's Wembley meeting with Emirates FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in the annual curtain-raiser.

See some key takeaways from the media briefing below…

• Slot's update on Alexis Mac Allister and Joe Gomez fitness

On the impact of Diogo Jota's tragic passing and the tributes that have since been paid...

First of all, the tragedy impacted us, of course, most. But again, it impacted far more his wife, children and parents. But it impacted us as well, definitely. The tributes that have been done since were all very emotional and impressive, every time we were somewhere. It started off in Preston and in Asia as well. It's been emotional, but impressive as well.

On the striking options he has available and whether they will change before the close of the transfer window...

These are a lot of questions! As you know from me – and I think every manager works like this – you never talk about players that are not yours. I can talk to you about Hugo [Ekitike], who we signed recently and has done really well until now. I and we are very happy with the squad we are having and there is every reason to be happy about that because we won the league last season. OK, players left, but we have brought players in as well and youngsters are doing good. At this moment in time, Darwin [Nunez] might indeed leave, but things are not signed yet, so you need to wait maybe a few days before that is completely done. But there is indeed a chance he is going to leave.

On whether the squad needs another centre-half...

What you just said, they [Ryan Gravenberch, Andy Robertson and Wataru Endo] can definitely play there as well. You forget to mention Joe Gomez – unfortunately, he has a minor injury at the moment but he will be back with the team very soon. We still have numerous options that can play there. But what I always say, it's the same boring answer as with players that we might bring in or not, I'm really happy with the players we are having and we have numerous players that can play in that position.

On the chance to secure the first trophy of the season...

Which is nice if you can start the season with the chance of winning something. Normally you have to play numerous games before you can win something. If it's the League Cup, FA Cup, let alone [the] Premier League or Champions League, normally you win something in the end of the season. Now we have a chance to win something in the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, we face a very good Crystal Palace that have been very difficult to win against for us, because we played 1-1 against them in the last game of the season. They showed in the last final – and even in the semi-final, by the way, as well – how difficult it is to win a one-off game [against] them. I think most of the players that they have are still there, so even more reason to know what a difficult team it is to play against.

On supporting Rio Ngumoha's development and him 'handling the spotlight' after his goals in pre-season...

That is sometimes also difficult, and you never know how an individual handles that situation. It was a year ago when Trey Nyoni scored a goal, I think against Sevilla, when he was also maybe 17 – very young. They have an incredible chance to work and be every day around players like Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah and all these others to see what they do to be ready to perform every three days. That is a step these players definitely have to make, which is completely normal if you're 16 or 17. It's already nice if they can play once a week at a good level.

We just try to develop them in the best way we can. We also have to take care of them because new players that come in that are 24, 23, 22 already experienced that the intensity levels are quite high either during the games or in training sessions, let alone for players that are 16 and coming through the Academy. We are aware of that but it's been a promising start from him, like for Trey Nyoni as well because I think Trey also played a very good game at Anfield [against Athletic Club] three days ago.

On the attacking depth in the squad and his use of 'senior' attackers last season...

I don't know what senior players exactly means. Does that mean that you play for your country or you have a certain age? Because a player like Rio showed in the last few games he played for us that at senior level he can have an impact as well. I think, we think, we already have a lot of attacking power in our team when I think about Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa, Hugo Ekitike, Mo Salah, Jeremie Frimpong, who can play as a right-winger, and Florian Wirtz, who can play as a left-winger. I already feel I have a lot of attacking options in my current squad. But as always, as a club we are always looking at the chances in the market – but that can also be in the midfield or in the last line.

On whether he has been shaping his squad with the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in mind...

Yes, we definitely thought about that. We brought in Jeremie Frimpong because we think he can play as a right full-back but I also think and feel he can play as a right-winger. I, we, did think about the fact that we're going to miss Mo, I think as a maximum for six games – but that's quite a lot in the Premier League, especially if you see how well he did last season. Signing Jeremie Frimpong was for multiple reasons but one of them was also that he could replace Mo if Mo is not there. There are other options for me to replace Mo with as well – but Jeremie is definitely one of them.