Real Madrid are set to travel to Anfield for a high-stakes Champions League group stage encounter, hoping to carry the momentum of one of their best-ever starts to a season.

While Los Blancos are in formidable form, their opponents, Liverpool, are still finding their footing in this new season and are dealing with significant injury blows.

In his pre-match press conference, Arne Slot gave his assessment of the upcoming challenge against Real Madrid, notably talking about his counterpart Xabi Alonso as well as Vinicius and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

What Slot said ahead of Real Madrid clash

Perhaps the highlight of the presser was when Slot was asked about Vinicius Jr. and his ‘attitude’, to which the Liverpool manager dismissed any thoughts about the Brazilian international.

“When I think about the Clasico, it’s not the first thing that comes to mind. It was a fantastic match, two very strong teams with very special players. He had some very special moments; he had a one-on-one in the first minute,” he said (h/t AS).

“He’s incredibly quick in one-on-one situations, he can beat four players at once, we have to be very careful with him.

“Against Juve, he had five players against him and he was able to find a way through. He’s an incredible player for Real Madrid and as long as he’s there, he will be,” he added.

In what will be welcome news for Real Madrid, Slot confirmed that two of his most important players, Alexander Isak, who missed training on Monday and Jeremie Frimpong, will miss the match.

“How are Isak and Frimpong? They’re not available. Jeremy won’t be available on Sunday either. Alex might be able to participate on Sunday, but he’s not training with the team yet,” he confirmed.

Slot also touched on the fitness struggles of other players, such as Connor Bradley and Florian Wirtz, highlighting the team’s ongoing battle with availability.

“He [Bradley] needs to stay in shape, because he played well in that match. Then he went off injured. We can say the same about Florian: that he can play every three days with this intensity and without getting injured after missing preseason,” he said.

As a Liverpool legend, Xabi Alonso’s return to Anfield as the opposition manager will be special for both parties. Talking about his counterpart, Slot was full of respect.

“You’ll have to ask him first, because I don’t know what he’s done. They were very successful for many years. We can only speak with the utmost respect, and Xabi is doing very well,” Slot noted.

“He won the Champions League here in Liverpool, and I can only say, because he played a long time ago and I didn’t watch the matches, that he had a great influence on the team.

“Everyone speaks of him as a good person, with respect, and about what a great human being he was.”

While Xabi Alonso will be welcomed at Anfield as a hero, Trent Alexander-Arnold might not receive the warmest of receptions. It is, after all, the first time the defender will return to Anfield after leaving the club as a free agent.

“I have very fond memories of him. As a person, he was our captain, our vice-captain. And my experiences working with him have only been positive,” Slot remarked on Trent.

“Those were great times with him in that Liverpool shirt, and I’m going to give him a warm welcome. But I can’t tell you what the fans will do. As far as I’m concerned, it will be a warm welcome,” he added.

Slot went on to talk about his opponent, admitting that Real Madrid team is a formidable opponent, but noted that last year’s circumstances were very different.

“It’s difficult to compare the two matches because last year they had a lot of injuries that they don’t have now. Xabi is doing a very good job, but so did Ancelotti. They’ve signed players, and that can have an influence,” said Slot.

“I saw a good Real Madrid last year, and they’re good now too. They’ve been in the semifinals 15 times, or even more in recent years [12 semifinals in the last 15 years]. A good team, but so are we,” he added.

Slot also talked about Steven Gerrard, who expects Real Madrid to win this pivotal tie in the Champions League.

“I always find it very difficult when you react to something someone has said. It wouldn’t be the first time in my life that someone has twisted their words.

“He’s a Liverpool legend, he wants us to win, but I don’t know exactly what he said. They’re having a lot of wins this season, we respect our opponent,” he said.

Despite facing Manchester City on Sunday, Slot insisted he will not be resting players against Real Madrid.

“When I think about the lineup for tomorrow, we have four days in between, more time than when we only have two days off. Tomorrow is the same for the opponent.

“Tomorrow’s lineup won’t have anything to do with what happens on Sunday. The good thing is that we won last Saturday. It was about time we won,” he added.

Slot was also asked about this Real Madrid game being a test, especially after a slow start to the new season.

“Every match is a test because we’re a new team. Last year we had both games at home, now we have one away game [against City]; last year Real Madrid had a lot of injuries, we were a different team. They have more players and fewer injuries than last year… Every match is a test for us,” he said.

Finally, Slot had a message for the Liverpool fans, urging them to fully back the Reds as they take on the record European champions this midweek.

“I can tell you to come tomorrow and help us just like you did last Saturday. Tomorrow we’re facing another team that’s on a great run.

“It’s always great to play at home because during that bad run we were almost exclusively playing away games. The fans can be very important tomorrow,” he concluded.