Liverpool manager Arne Slot:

"You tell me we've got the best defence because we've conceded the least goals, so that doesn't mean we have the best defence; we have 11 players who work really hard to not concede a goal.

"But I agree our last line has impressed this season because, every time they have to defend, they are there, as well as our goalkeeper.

"So if we'd had this amount of injuries in another line [midfield, attack] that would have worried me as well, especially as I knew we have nine games coming up this month.

"To go into the month with only five defenders is not ideal, but it's part of everyone's season.

"Whenever you have got some injuries in a certain line, it is always a bit of a worry, but I trust the players we have now to do everything they can to stay fit and we have to take smart decisions as well to keep them available for this month because you cannot have a month where you don't have results as then they [other clubs] will be back."