Every word Arne Slot said on Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa transfer rumors and Brighton

Liverpool’s defense of the Carabao Cup will continue against Brighton on Wednesday. The Reds, having beaten West Ham 5-1 in the previous round, are looking to reach the quarter-finals.

Head coach Arne Slot previewed the match in a press conference on Tuesday. As well as the game itself, the Dutchman was inevitably quizzed on various other subjects, not least the dismissal of his countryman Erik ten Hag by Manchester United.

The Liverpool boss was asked about Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa, Wataru Endo’s needs for games, the injury situation at the club and the young players who were out on loan. It was a wide-ranging interview, as is so often the case.

• Arne Slot confirms injury boost as four Liverpool players set to miss Brighton

• Arne Slot has clear stance on surprise Federico Chiesa transfer amid Liverpool struggles

Here is everything Slot said during his press conference ahead of tomorrow’s game against the Seagulls.

On Darwin Nunez

"I think about Darwin, I gave him credit for the fact he worked so hard in previous weeks when he didn't play a lot to be able to play three games in a row," Slot said. "I think three games in eight days, so that says a lot about him – but it also says a lot about the quality of our performance staff and medical staff that we were able to give him the right sessions to prepare him in the right way.

"You always need the player to buy in because you can give him the right sessions, but if he doesn't give everything then it is very difficult for him to do what he did. Also with him it was a good thing his ban for the Uruguay team was cancelled so he could play two games there, that probably helped for him to play the way he did – and I am not talking about the quality he played with, but the intensity he played with.

"The quality was also good, so that was a positive thing. It is a pity Diogo Jota is not available and Federico Chiesa is also not available because they were, in my opinion, the most logical No.9s, but still we have some other options."

On Federico Chiesa

"First and foremost is that he gets fit again and then we can see where he is. I think there were also reports in Italy and what I meant about him was he missed pre-season and in pre-season that he was on low-intensity sessions because he had to train with three or four players, apart from the group. That is what I said.

"And then going from there to a high-intensity league, to a high-intensity playing style, is difficult in general for every player, but especially if you have a pre-season like this. We knew this before, so we knew we had to be really careful [and] adjust where we could to his individual needs.

"But it hasn't been perfect yet, so we are trying to find the right way of building him up without overloading him, and that has been difficult until now, but I have the full confidence that that will happen."

On Wataru Endo and keeping players happy

"The last thing is not always easy because they all want to play – and it would be strange for me if they are all happy [when] they don't play. But they are professionals, they know these things can happen and they also see the players who play in their positions do really well.

"So, that is mostly with Wata [Endo] but it is also with Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah, that they are in competition with Ryan [Gravenberch], Virgil [van Dijk] and Ibou [Konate]. So they understand and they see how well these players play and that they also stay fit until the last minute of the game.

"But I think Wata is one of the players that might be in the line-up [tomorrow] because the season is going to be so long and we will need him during the season. Therefore, once in a while he needs this playing time as well.

"Fortunately he has this playing time with the national team, but it helps if he once in a while gets a game with us again. I really liked him against West Ham and what I admire about him, what I respect about him, is his personality because two times he had to come in five minutes before the end and in my managerial career I sometimes have seen that players who, if they come in five minutes before the end, they come in with a face like this and play like that.

"But every time when we need him – even if it's for five minutes – he shows up for the team, for his teammates and for himself. Also for that reason he deserves to play tomorrow."

On Brighton

"Very good idea about football for many years already. I like their playing style a lot with their former manager already and with this one as well. And I think what makes the club Brighton, in my opinion, special is that maybe [they do not have] the most money in the league when they buy the players – but they always find the right ones.

"So, there is a lot of quality, although also for them the transfer fees go up a bit but they are not spending £100 million on a player. They always find the right ones. So, many quality players to pick and a very good playing style."

On injuries ahead of the game

“Conor [Bradley] is training with us again so he could maybe be in the squad tomorrow. Jota not, Alisson not, Harvey Elliott not, and Federico, I’m not expecting him to be in the squad tomorrow as well.

On who will start in goal

“It’s something that also goes through my head and I haven’t made my decision yet, so we will see tomorrow. It’s also a decision you take [where] you can include your goalkeeper coach with that.

“But in the end I have to make that decision and I also want to hear how fit Caoimhin [Kelleher] is at the moment – he played many games. Let’s wait and see what decision I make tomorrow.”

On changes to the starting XI

“I don’t think it’s possible to do the same as we did against West Ham for the simple reason that we got some injuries, so we don’t have maybe enough players to change them all if I wanted that.

“We played against Arsenal on Sunday, yesterday was mostly recovery for everyone, so today when they come in – and they have to come in as we speak – we will find out how they all are and then we have to make a decision on who is going to start."

On loan moves for youngsters

"Yeah, that is sometimes difficult because in certain situations you would prefer to keep them here, because then they can train every day with you and you can implement in the best possible way your playing style. But if that also means that they hardly play that will normally also lead not to the progression you are hoping for.

"That is the balance we always try to find with our players, also with our very talented ones and sometimes that means you bring them on a loan – Stefan Bajcetic was a very good example to that.

"Then you hope to see that he plays a lot, and he already played a few games. And then it's very pleasing in this particular situation that he went to a very good manager as well with Pepijn Lijnders that knows this club.

"And for Ben Doak, it's similar. He also went to a very good manager and they have a very good playing style. It's a balance we need to find: do we want to play them on a regular basis or once in a while and keep them with us where we have to be aware of our own interests?

"So, we can't let everybody go that doesn't play all the time – and there Tyler Morton is a good example of that. He's a quality, quality player, good enough to play everywhere around the league, but is in competition with so many good midfielders over here.

"Like you see now, we've got six forwards, two of them are injured, so only four left. With the schedule we have, that's sometimes a bit of a worry for me. Maybe we should bring Ben Doak back!"