Arne Slot press conference: Liverpool boss talks Newcastle, UCL chase, Isak and Frimpong injuries | OneFootball

Arne Slot has addressed the media this morning ahead of Liverpool's clash with Newcastle United in the Premier League tomorrow.

The Reds welcome Newcastle to Anfield on Saturday evening, as both teams look to boost theirChampions League hopes with a win. Liverpool enter the game on a five-game winless run in the Premier League but impressed in midweek to beat Qarabag 6-0 in the Champions League.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Slot discussed the challenge facing his team this weekend,Liverpool's pursuit of a top-four finish, and his side's latest fitness issues.

Arne Slot press conference: Key talking points

On the challenge of facing Newcastle, who beat Liverpool in last season's Carabao Cup final and sit just three points behind the Reds in the table...

"We have experienced how tough it is to play against Newcastle in the one-and-a-half years I have been here now. It's always been a very tough contest, a very tough game for us, and for them as well.

"A great game to look forward to because we both had a good result during the week. A home game at Anfield is always something to look forward to."

On Liverpool's battle to secure Champions League qualification...

"It's obvious that the closer you come to the end, the less chance you have to make a mistake. We are now in a position that we cannot afford a lot of mistakes anymore because we have made far too many.

"When I say mistakes I mean giving away goals in the last minutes, or we don't do any justice on the performance in terms of the score.

"So it is clear and obvious that the closer you come to the end then there is not a lot of room for mistakes anymore."

On the availability of Jeremie Frimpong, who sustained a hamstring injury against Qarabag, and Ibrahima Konate, who has been absent following the death of his father

"He (Frimpong) will definitely not be in the squad tomorrow. He is out for a few weeks but not as bad as we thought, so something positive from something not so positive. Ibou (Konate) trained with us today and will be in the squad tomorrow."

On the progress of record signing and former Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, who is currently sidelined with a fractured fibula

"He has not even been on the (training) pitch yet. He is just out of his 'walker'. I am not expecting him on the pitch today or tomorrow, in terms of his recovery work, so that is going to take him a while before he is back, as we knew."