Slot on Wirtz's fitness, conceding late goals & facing Wolves again — and more

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Friday's FA Cup fifth round game against Wolves at Molineux (20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Floran Wirtz trained yesterday so has made the "next step in his rehab" and could be available "for a few minutes in the best scenario" on Friday. Slot added he has no other fresh injury concerns after Tuesday's league defeat at Molineux.
• On potential rotation he said: "We have a few [options for changes] but we don't have 11. I always have options to bring in and players we can bring in and let them start. Not for the first time this season, three days after a game where we have dropped points. I've seen us do quite a lot this season, we have to be better than we were last time."
• More on Tuesday's defeat: "A game which was not so difficult to analyse. A lot of ball possession without being able to create many chances, not for the first time this season. Enough chances to win the game but we didn't convert it into goals. The first attack they had led to a goal. It was hard to take but we're one day away from another really important game for us. We know we have to be better tomorrow."
• Slot was asked about the Reds' record of conceding late goals this season, including on Tuesday: "It's a real concern if you lose and if you lose many times in the same manner it's even more a concern. The way we concede goals in the last minute is not always similar. Some of these goals are not from big chances. You always try to prevent the other team getting big chances."
• On the importance of the FA Cup: "We always find every trophy we can win very important. Champions League qualification is massive as we all know but tomorrow the FA Cup is on the line and that is a massive game for us."
• Where has he seen progression in recent weeks?: "You see individual players getting better and better but progress has had setbacks because of injuries. We had to adjust to the Florian Wirtz injury, that has happened to us a lot this season. At times this season we conceded a lot of goals and counter-attacks but I see improvement there. Bringing from all the ball possession into chances we have seen some improvement."
• On Cody Gakpo, whose only goal in his last nine came in last weekend's win over West Ham: "We are not in terms of chance creation last in the league. We're not doing that bad. We're also the team with most ball possession so you'd expect us to create more. Cody and Mo [Salah] we expect and they expect from themselves to score more. But attacking isn't just down to Cody and Mo in the same way defending isn't just down to Virgil and Ibou. Let's create even more and the goals will come."

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On Friday, the California siblings will suit up for Great Britain, who face Mexico in their opening game of the World Baseball Classic.

Donyell Malen is only the last player to shine in Serie A after a move from the Premier League, following in the footsteps of Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay.

With six goals scored in his opening seven Serie A matches, ex-Aston Villa striker Malen has had a tremendous impact at Roma, becoming the second-best European top-scorer after Harry Kane since his move to the Olimpico.

His impact in the Serie A title race has given Roma a boost on “Anglia Bet“ as the Giallorossi fight for a top-four finish.

Malen’sbig Roma impact

After Round 27, the Giallorossi sit 4th in the standings, with a three-point lead over Como and four points more than Juventus.

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini recently explained how he convinced Malen to join the team from Aston Villa during the winter transfer window.

“He played for Aston Villa and the national team. The way I convinced him to come and play for Roma was by telling him, ‘You’ll play.’ He often ended up on the wing, but for me, he’s a striker, and he wanted this. A striker doesn’t have to be 1,90m tall,” said the Giallorossi boss.

“I think we are already on a good level, but everything can improve. If you lose strikers for one and a half months, it becomes more difficult for everyone.”

Malen is the last player to have had an immediate impact on Serie A after a move from the Premier League.

One of the most notable examples is McTominay at Napoli. The Scotland star won the Scudetto in his first year at the Stadio Maradona and was named the best player in the league in 2024-25.

One year after his move to Naples, another Manchester United player followed him as the Partenopei signed Hojlund from Old Trafford.

The Dane has grabbed 13 goals and provided four assists in 34 appearances under Antonio Conte so far this season.

Back in 2019-20, Romelu Lukaku made the difference for Inter after a move from Manchester United, helping the club win the Scudetto in his second season at the Stadio Meazza, also under Conte.

Danilo, a former Manchester City defender, is another player who has won the Serie A title, lifting the trophy with Juventus in 2019-20.

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 05: Fikayo Tomori of AC Milan warms up prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Fiorentina at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 05, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Fikayo Tomori won the domestic title with Milan in his second season in 2021-22 after completing a permanent move from Chelsea.

Talking about Milan and Chelsea, how can we not mention Christian Pulisic, another player who has surely improved his game since moving from Stamford Bridge to San Siro?

Captain America has only won one Supercoppa at Milan, but has scored 42 goals in 124 games with the Rossoneri, justifying his €20m price tag.