Round-upArne Slot press conference: Liverpool v Arsenal, transfers, Ekitike and Ngumoha

The Reds' head coach previewed this weekend's Anfield affair between the top two last season by speaking to reporters at the AXA Training Centre on Friday morning.

See a summary of the media briefing below...

• Injury news: Updates on Bradley, Mac Allister and Van Dijk

On the likelihood of adding to the squad before the deadline...

I think I said after Monday evening that, again, I could make a substitution that impacted the game. That's what Federico [Chiesa] did against Bournemouth and that's what Rio [Ngumoha] did now against Newcastle. As always, we try to sign players that can help us, but there is no reason after the first two games to complain or to think we need more. If we can strengthen the squad then we will always try to do that if it's for the right money and it's the right player. There are only three or four days to go now, so let's see if we do something – and if we do something, what we can do.

On what Liverpool will need to improve against Arsenal...

The most simple answer to that is 'a lot' because we face a very strong team that were already really good last season and I think they have improved their squad a lot during the summer. If you then look at all the quality they have and especially one thing that stands out in the season until now – and what stands out in a negative way for us is we have conceded, if I include the [Athletic Club] Bilbao game, [from] four set-pieces. Of course, as we all know, that is one of their strengths – not the strength, but one of their strengths.

They can play in multiple ways, you can see how well they are managed by Mikel [Arteta] and they are working for five years together, because they can play almost every style there is in football. That tells you how well managed they are. One of their strengths is also set-pieces and that is an area where, if you look at Monday when we faced Newcastle we conceded two and against Bilbao two, we need to improve. We were, by the way, really good last season, so no panicking at all. We also had to defend [a lot of] set-pieces at Newcastle, so then only conceding two is not even so bad!

On the importance he places on 'losing ground' on a title rival at this stage of the season...

[It's] not so much to do with losing ground – yes, it has to do with losing ground, but not that we are playing Arsenal. It is more in the beginning of the season normally teams don't play their best game unless you keep the same squad completely and you add three, four, five, six or seven players, then you can maybe expect the team is growing even further. If you look at our situation, we have lost a few and we have added a few. It is not starting all the way new again, but I think it is normal that we play even better – even better, not better but even better – in a few weeks than we do now.

In the meantime, you can lose ground. Not a lot, although I would be surprised if there would be a points record this season in the Premier League. I would be surprised if one team gets more than 100 points because of the strength of the league. You are able, once in a while, to drop a few points and still be competitive in the end of the season, I think, but the best thing you can do is not drop points at all.

On Hugo Ekitike...

I think he has already made a big impact in the attacking part of our game. Not only scoring goals but also being part of build-up situations where he was someone that started the attack or was part of us starting an attack. I'm talking about a difference a bit more than last season, although when Lucho [Luis Diaz] played there he was also a lot of times part of our build-up. The most simple answer to what he can improve is his match fitness. I expect him to do even a lot, a lot more without the ball than he already does, because he's already working hard. There he can improve, which is completely normal because he has to adjust from a different league, from a different playing style. Frankfurt pressed but not as much as we try to do.

Then coming to a different country, coming to a different league, there's a lot for him to handle. And then [when] we come back after the international break, it's Champions League games added to that, where he was used to playing, I think, Europa League – which is also a good level but not as high as [the] Champions League. There is the main point of improvement, which is completely normal because he came a bit later in pre-season. So to adapt to the intensity levels without the ball, I think there are small steps for him to make.

On Ngumoha's role this season...

Left-winger, that's the role I see for him! Or is that not what you mean? On a serious note, I think this whole press conference started with the spending of us [and] all other clubs in the Premier League. The nice part of it all is that then, in the end, a 16-year-old coming from the academy – partly Chelsea, partly ours – scores the winning goal. So, that's also the beauty still of football that although we've spent a lot – sold a lot as well – there is still room [for him]. If we only spend and not sell then there was probably not room for him. But now there is room for him and he can show his qualities. As things stand now, there's still room for him to show that in the upcoming game as well because we haven't made any signings, so I think he will be on the bench again and has a fair chance of coming in if he's needed.