Slot denies Nunez is being benched over Benfica clause
Arne Slot has denied reports Darwin Nunez is being left out of the Liverpool starting line-up for financial reasons.
Portuguese outlet Abola this week claimed Benfica would be owed £4.25m (€5m) by Liverpool if Nunez started another Premier League game.
Nunez, who signed from Benfica in 2022 in a deal that could reach £85m, has started just one of Liverpool’s last 16 league games.
The Uruguay striker has started 49 league games for Liverpool since joining and Abola claim the clause will be triggered once he hits 50, but Slot insists this is news to him.
Asked if this had any baring on his team selection, Slot said: “Do you always believe what journalists say? Not always? Me neither.
“Sometimes it is better not to believe everything that is written about players.
“[The clause is] completely new to me. The last thing I would expect Richard Hughes [the sporting director] to do is tell me that if I play Nunez it would cost us this much. He would never do that. He never interferes with the line-up.”
Darwin Nunez joins Liverpool in club-record £85m transfer deal from Benfica
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49 minute ago49m ago03:41
Analysis: Slot’s call for focus despite title looming
Sky Sports News’ Vinny O’Connor at the Liverpool training ground:
History beckons. Not only a record equalling 20th league title (Liverpool’s second Premier League title) but Arne Slot becoming only the fifth to win English football’s biggest prize in his first season as a Premier League head coach.
Only Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Manuel Pellegrini and Antonio Conte have gone before him.
The magnitude of what will be achieved (at some point between now and the end of the season) isn’t lost on Slot who will become the 12th manager to win the Premier League and first Dutchman to do so. At the same time he’s refusing to take anything for granted.
His demeanour was businesslike rather than celebratory as he highlighted the responsibility he and his players have to get over the line in front of their own fans.
When Liverpool were last crowned Champions in 2019, Covid times meant they couldn’t celebrate together; there couldn’t be a more stark contrast to the outpouring of emotion there will be at Anfield if they get the job done on Sunday.
For that to happen Slot believes focus must remain on the game itself. The management and players know what’s required, he hoped the fans do too and support in the best possible way as they’ve done all season.
We’ve heard it so many times this season, focus on the next game, even though the title race has looked over for a long time now. And by bringing the same energy and mentality we’ve seen for much of this season the expectation is that the name Liverpool will finally be etched on the premier league trophy for a second time.
When Slot arrived at Liverpool his expectation was that his job was all about delivering trophies; he may not be getting carried away just yet, but he’s not going to have to wait too much l
‘A big responsibility’ – Slot feeling pressure of bringing PL title back to Anfield
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2 hour ago2h ago01:37
Slot: Bradley will struggle for consistent game-time while Trent is here
Liverpool boss Arne Slot:
“[Conor Bradley]is getting closer to 90 minutes and it’s normal if you play twice 70 mins the chance is getting closer.
“But we are taking very good care of him as he had two injuries very similar. Let’s wait and see how he does today and tomorrow and if he is able to play and then if he is able to play 90 minutes.
On if Bradley will get the chance to play more full matches before the end of the season:
“It’s going to be important for him to become an even better player than he is now to play many games in a row. Unfortunately for him there is another full-back at this club who is world-class with Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“That’s probably the only reason he hasn’t played back-to-back-to-back games yet because he definitely has the quality to do so.
“That is the next step in his development, but as long as Trent is here, it is going to be a difficult step for him to make. They are both very good full-backs.”
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3 hour ago3h ago01:30
When will Gomez return?
Liverpool boss Arne Slot:
“If his recovery goes well Gomez will be [available] in the last two games of the season but he isn’t training with us yet. But is getting closer.”
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3 hour ago3h ago01:28
Slot denies leaving Nunez out to avoid triggering Benfica bonus
Liverpool boss Arne Slot on reports he is leaving Darwin Nunez out because of a clause in his contract:
“Do you always believe what journalists say? Not always? Me neither. Sometimes you should, sometimes it is better not to believe everything that is written about players.
“It’s completely new to me. The last thing I would expect Richard Hughes to do is tell me that if I play Nunez it would cost us this much. He would never do that. He never interferes with the line-up.
“It might be true but if a journalist says it we have to balance it…”
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3 hour ago3h ago01:21
Will Slot enjoy the game on Sunday?
Liverpool boss Arne Slot:
“I enjoy going to Anfield every single time, but the focus is on trying to get the points or win over the line.
“Normally we settle only for a win, a point isn’t enough. It’s mostly three, four or five minutes you are happy and then normal managerial life starts again.”
Asked if he will take more than five minutes to celebrate if the title is won:
“That means it will take more time for us to go to the media!”
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3 hour ago3h ago01:17
Has this been a poor Premier League season?
Liverpool boss Arne Slot:
“Everybody can have their own opinion.
“Difficult for me to say, because I have only been here one season. I can only tell you my experience.
“It has never been as exciting for top five finish because in all the years before it was quite clear.
“In my opinion, it is a really difficult league. There has never been an easy game. Maybe that tells you something about us.
“We aren’t the only team who finds it hard to win by a margin of three or four goals and that was easier a few years ago.
“Maybe the Liverpools, Arsenals and Citys aren’t as good anymore. Or we are still very good but the other teams have the funds to spend just as much or more.”
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3 hour ago3h ago01:16
Slot on expectations at Liverpool
Liverpool boss Arne Slot on if he expected to win the Premier League in his first season:
“No. If you walk in this door here or at Anfield, you know the expectations. You know this club has to win trophies.
“That doesn’t change when I walk through that door. Most managers work here for a long time, so you have chances to win something.
“You are aware of that, but it is not the first thing to think about when you walk through this door.”
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3 hour ago3h ago01:11
Slot not thinking about making history
Arne Slot will become the 12th manager to win the Premier League if Liverpool can get over the line.
But he says he is not focused on the history he and his side could make on Sunday.
“The only thing I think about is all the players being available,” said Slot.
“I saw how hard it was last week to get a point against a team that was nearly relegated. We’ve played Tottenham three times this season so I know how hard it is to play against them.”
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3 hour ago3h ago01:09
Slot: ‘Big responsibility’ to get a point vs Spurs
Liverpool boss Arne Slot:
“It is a big responsibility because we are aware the last time this club won the league it was during Covid.
“A job still needs to be done. We need a point.
“It is a nice game to look forward to. We will try and prepare the game the same way we have this season.
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3 hour ago3h ago01:08
Slot on watching Arsenal-Palace together
Liverpool boss Arne Slot:
“It was different. Normally if you watch a game you are with family and friends, but we watched all together.
“Before the game I was surprised it ended in a draw, but not during because Palace showed what this league is all about.”
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3 hour ago3h ago01:06
Here comes Slot!
The Liverpool boss is just taking his seat and the press conference is about to begin.
Updates to follow…
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3 hour ago3h ago00:50
Slot to speak ahead of Spurs
Liverpool boss Arne Slot is set for what could be his final pre-match press conference before his side are crowned Premier League champions.
Just a point is required for Liverpool against Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday – live on Sky Sports.
It will be some party on Merseyside if they do it this weekend because Liverpool would go level with Man Utd’s record of 20 top-flight English titles.
And it will be their first league title win for five years after Man City’s unprecedented four consecutive seasons of dominance in the Premier League.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future could be a topic once again, with the right-back just five games away from his Liverpool career ending unless a new deal can be agreed.
Updates from Slot will appear on this page from around 9am…
When can Liverpool win the Premier League title? Date, permutations, trophy parade plans
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23 hour ago23h ago04:48
Merson: Nothing but a Liverpool win on Super Sunday
Sky Sports’ Paul Merson on The Football Show:
“Tottenham Hotspur have got a bigger game next Thursday [in the Europa League] than the Liverpool game, so I don’t see them putting out their strongest team in the world, so for me, it’ll all be done.
“I’m quite pleased that it’s going to happen at Anfield in front of a packed house, because if Arsenal had lost against Crystal Palace, it wouldn’t have been the same and last time they won it [in 2020], there were no fans allowed.
“I don’t see anything but Liverpool winning the Premier League this weekend.”
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23 Apr23 Apr14:08
Liverpool made to wait but ‘perfect result’?
Liverpool will have to wait until Sunday to try and seal the Premier League title after Crystal Palace’s draw at Arsenal on Wednesday.
Palace gave Arsenal a scare at the Emirates, twice coming from a goal behind, but could not find the winner that would have seen Arne Slot’s side crowned without kicking a ball.
The Reds now need just a point against Tottenham at Anfield on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports, to become champions.
“In some ways this is the perfect result in that you do want to something in your own ground to win it,” said Jamie Carragher.
“And some may have wanted just a quiet night in tonight instead of going to celebrate. They can save that for the weekend!.
“This result makes it easier for Liverpool at the weekend – all they need to do is not lose the game.”
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23 Apr23 Apr13:25
How Liverpool look set for busy summer transfer window
Latest from Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas and Mark McAdam:
Left back is a priority position for Liverpool this summer, along with a striker and a winger.
If Liverpool are successful with recruiting in those positions, the Reds will then look to move on to recruiting a right back, a central midfielder and a left-footed centre back.