Arne Slot is a big fan of a Tottenham player that his Liverpool side may face on Thursday (Image: Getty)
Liverpool boss Arne Slot spoke openly and candidly on Wednesday morning, as his side prepare to face in the second leg semi-final of the Carabao Cup.
The Reds trail 1-0 from the first encounter in north London, which due to the fixture conjestion uncharacteristically took place three weeks ago.
Now, after the extended break in between, welcome Spurs to Merseyside on Thursday evening with expectations high.
Unlike Slot’s side, Spurs made themselves busy in the January transfer window before the deadline slammed shut, with adding faces to freshen up his injury-hit squad.
Goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky had already been acquired, while defender Kevin Danso joined the ranks and Bayern Munich wonderkid Mathys Tel was finally secured at the eleventh hour for Spurs.
All three could yet feature in Thursday’s Anfield showdown.
meanwhile kept their powder dry in January, with Slot insisting the team he currently has at his disposal is not one that requires immediate enhancement.
Van de Ven has established himself as a powerful and athletic defender in the Premier League (Image: Getty)
Nonetheless, the Dutch boss did speak out on a player he has been frequently reported to have attempted to sign at several junctures in his managerial career.
Slot addressed the possible return of Spurs’ athletic centre back Micky Van de Ven, who was firmly on his radar during his tenure as Feyenoord boss.
When asked whether he needed to motivate his players any differently prior to Thursday’s match, given currently trail, Slot replied: “No, I don’t think I have to prepare them differently than to any other game.
“As long as exists, if you play in this shirt you need to win the game. That’s for tomorrow, that’s for Sunday, for Wednesday afterwards and the game after that.”
Slot then went on to note the possible return of the impressive Van de Ven, given the considerable time delay since the first leg and the liklihood that the Netherlands international has returned to full fitness.
Slot added: “The injuries had the last time we played them, it would have been a little more in our advantage if we had played them one week later again, although we lost against the ones that were fit that time.
“They’ve brought in three players, the goalkeeper was already there in the window, so now we face two different ones. I wonder if Micky Van de Ven is ready to play, he of course has a big impact on that team, so yeah it might change.”
Van de Ven, 23, recently in his services, and waxed lyrically about as a club.
Van de Ven explained: “ wanted to sign me for AZ when he saw me play in the first season at Volendam. The club refused to sell me and I had to accept that they would not let me go. When he was at Feyenoord he tried to sign me, too, but by then I had already signed for Wolfsburg in Germany.
“Do I think I would be playing for now if I would have joined Slot at Feyenoord? That would have been some kind of fate. Slot is doing really well.
” is now a fantastic team and he is showing again what a brilliant coach he is. Every player who has worked under Slot, will tell you great things about him. In the few talks I had with him at the time, I got a great feeling about his managerial style, his coaching and his ideas in football. He really, really sees the game well.”