Harvey Elliott message, Liverpool injury update and Federico Chiesa remark that said a lot

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What you need to know following Arne Slot's pre-Leeds United press conference

Injury Updates and Squad Availability: Slot confirmed that Joe Gomez, who sustained a knock against West Ham, trained after a recovery day, and his availability will be assessed. Conor Bradley has also been training this week and is expected to be included in the squad for the upcoming match.

Addressing the Harvey Elliott Loan Situation: Slot admitted he has had minimal contact with Harvey Elliott recently and is aware of the difficulties the player is currently facing. However, he stated that questions about Elliott’s playing time should be directed to Aston Villa, where he is currently on loan.

Recent Defensive Improvements: Slot highlighted the positive change of securing four points from the last two games, compared to two consecutive home losses where the team conceded seven goals. He noted a defensive step forward with the team narrowly missing two clean sheets and successfully avoiding conceding from a set piece.

Confidence from New Signings: The manager noted that the team is gaining confidence from summer arrivals such as Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez, as well as Alexander Isak scoring his first goal for the club. Despite these positives, he acknowledged that the team is still not at the level they aspire to be.

Mohamed Salah's Status and Influence: Slot reaffirmed that Mohamed Salah is an exceptional player who is always an option to start or come off the bench in every game. He fully understands the media and fan "chatter" when Salah isn't playing, as the player has been so influential for the club over the past six or seven years.

Anticipating the Challenge from Leeds: Slot saw similarities between a recent Leeds United game and his own team's style, expecting an opponent that employs aggressive one-v-one pressing followed by a deep, defensive block. He expects a physical test, noting that every Premier League fixture, especially away games, is demanding due to the world-class athletes in the league.

The Race for a Top-Four Finish: Slot stated that the tightness of the top-four race reflects the increasing quality of the Premier League, which gets better every year due to high financial investment. He stressed that achieving a return to the top four is the team's primary objective, as they are currently dissatisfied with their league position.