Arne Slot didn't hold back in Liverpool press conference that left journalists smirking

Arne Slot insists he isn't nervous ahead of his competitive Anfield debut as Liverpool head coach this weekend. And if evidence was wanted of the Dutchman becoming more comfortable with his new surrounds, it emerged at the AXA Training Centre on Friday morning.

The press conference room at the Kirkby facility will soon become something of a second home for Slot as he regularly addresses the assembled media throughout his tenure. But the discussion ahead of Sunday's Premier League visit of Brentford was only the third time such an occasion had taken place.

The new Liverpool boss, though, has already shown himself more than willing to embrace the everyday English vernacular.

"Like with all of them, it's not about the individual," responded Slot when asked about the performance of Ryan Gravenberch as a number six against Ipswich Town last weekend

"It's always what the team around him do for him to play a good game. If all the other 10 would have played s**t at Ipswich, I don't think Ryan would have been able to play a great game."

Cue a succession of knowing smirks from those present, including those representing the club's press office. While Slot's predecessor, Jurgen Klopp, wasn't averse to dropping the occasional potty-mouthed utterance, it is telling the incumbent has wasted no time in following suit.

The Liverpool boss had earlier played down any suggestions of butterflies ahead of Sunday - "if you've got nerves then you probably don't trust what you did before, you just don't trust your team," he opined - and later even felt happy to aim a playful jibe at one former ECHO operative in the room. It's almost as if the change in manager hadn't happened.

But it has. And Slot is very much his own man with his own ideas, as seen by opting to utilise Gravenberch in a deeper midfield role in recent weeks.

The Holland international, impressive at Ipswich, will be expected to keep his place against Brentford.

"What he has is running capacity, so he can keep on running, he has a nice height and he is really comfortable with the ball," said Slot.

"So, he has some attributes that he could play in that position but still a lot to prove for him, as for all the others. We have other options in that position as well. Interesting competition in many positions."

While some matters have been determined - Slot was happy to permit the sale of young trio Fabio Carvalho, Sepp van den Berg and Bobby Clark - there is plenty the Dutchman has yet to discover among the squad he inherited from Klopp.

And the Reds boss admits the 24 hours after last Saturday's opening 2-0 win at promoted Ipswich proved hugely instructive.

"I'm learning every day still about these players, about the individuals and also how they co-operate with each other," said Slot.

"For me, the last week was not only important on Saturday, the Sunday was also really important because I learned and saw there that the ones that didn't play on Saturday were able to bring a really good training session in on Sunday.

"I think that's a real important thing for a team as well because we all know we're going to need many, many, many of them during the season for a lot of game minutes.

"That will help them and us for the rest of the season. Yes, I am still learning new things about the players."

Much the same way, in fact, as the media is continuing to learn more about the new Liverpool boss and what makes him tick.