Arne Slot makes admission on Premier League campaign as Liverpool face mounting injury crisis

This window provides Slot's squad with six league fixtures to concentrate on domestic matters.

Liverpool will face stern tests against Newcastle and Manchester City, while also taking on Sunderland, Brighton, Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Wolves.

The club currently sits just two points clear of Manchester United in fourth, with Chelsea also breathing down their necks in the battle for Champions League places.

Slot is acutely aware that his team must rediscover their best form, having managed only five victories in their previous 18 top-flight encounters.

He said: "We already thought that every single period was pivotal so that hasn’t changed but it is obvious the closer you come to the end, the less opportunities you have to make a mistake."

"We are now in a position where we cannot afford a mistake any more because we have made too many, giving away goals in the last minute that don’t do any justice to the performance in terms of the score."

Slot added: “Every single game is crucial, but the way we have positioned ourselves now makes probably every game even more crucial because that is definitely what we want to achieve.

"It (Newcastle) is a crucial game, as is the next one, as is the next one as well.”

The Liverpool boss will hope the reduced schedule allows time for some of his injured players to recover.

He has Ibrahima Konate back from compassionate leave and Curtis Jones returning from illness.

Jeremie Frimpong’s groin injury in midweek means there will be no recognised right-back again this weekend.

Speaking on Frimpong, Slot said: "He will definitely not be in the squad tomorrow.

"He is out for a few weeks but not as bad as we thought, so something positive from something not so positive.

"Joe will not be available for the weekend but that doesn’t have to take much longer any more.”

British record signing Alexander Isak’s recovery from a broken leg and ankle surgery will not be rushed, as five weeks after the injury, he has only just dispensed with the walking aid he has been using for support.

Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni have been ruled out for the seaso.

Even though Slot could name only three senior outfield players in the Champions League win over Qarabag, he appears unlikely to add reinforcements before the window closes.

Slot said: "The answer is that if we think we have identified a player that can help us and we think it is possible then we will do so."

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