Slot on academy players, Chiesa's competition and Spurs

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game at Tottenham (kick-off 16:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Centre-back Ibrahima Konate and right-back Conor Bradley are the only two players who are injured and yet to return to team training.

• He said the effort he and the performance team put into the pre-season plan has been rewarded because only these two were injured: "We gave them quite a lot of days off - although the players wouldn't agree, I'm sure - and I feel we find the benefits of that in this moment.

• Meanwhile, Italy forward Federico Chiesa "is definitely getting stronger" after building up his minutes on Wednesday at Southampton, but he is "also facing a lot of competition in that right-wing position".

• On giving academy players a chance in the Carabao Cup: "Most of the clubs [left in the competition] have played with their starters and only a few have picked non-starters. If we miss a few players, then we take a look at our academy and that is part of our identity. There is always room for them."

• He said the return of Harvey Elliott was "a boost for the team" and having his players return at this stage of the season is "so important" when competing on four fronts.

• Slot likened how he tells the players to manage games as to how he is as a father: "If you don't tell them a few things regularly enough, they tend to forget! Re-application is so important for a team. Maybe small details change, as football changes, but the main message has always been the same."

• Slot said drawing Tottenham in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup "is interesting" but there were "four top teams still in it, so no easy one."

• He has been impressed by Spurs despite an inconsistent first half of the season: "I really have to give them credit because if I look at Tottenham, they have always been a certain brand and identity and [Ange] Postecoglou has given them that identity back completely. It is a joy to watch them."

• More on Postecoglou's attacking set-up: "I hope, hope, hope he wins a trophy, but not the League Cup! A fan for the Europa League. Trophies are important and his brand of football is important. If he wins, then you can stop talking about his style being too attacking."

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