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Slot confident Liverpool can handle tricky opening test against Bournemouth

Slot is confident ahead of Liverpool's Premier League opener
Slot is confident ahead of Liverpool's Premier League openerMark Pain / Alamy / Profimedia
Liverpool boss Arne Slot is confident they are well prepared for Friday night's Premier League opener with Bournemouth.

The title holders go into the campaign kickoff on the back of defeat in the Community Shield last Sunday against Crystal Palace.

Asked about their preparations, Slot said: "We're as ready as we can be. We have lost three or four starters and (Ryan) Gravenberch can't play this week, so if you exclude the keeper, 5 of 10 outfield positions are different. 

"Quality on the ball, I am happy, but 8/10 times off the ball is good, but the aim at this club is 10/10 times. So still fine-tuning. Against Bilbao, I was pleased with the defensive performance; no chances in open play, but we conceded two set pieces.

"Against Palace, the main chances we conceded were when we lost the ball ourselves. Still to improve, which is normal, let alone if we have not lost a few starters. We have brought in four new ones, so it is normal to have some adaptation but we are definitely ready." 

Missing Gravenberch

Holland midfielder Gravenberch was also missing for the Community Shield, and Slot admits his absence is a concern.

He continued: "I think last Sunday (against Palace), the chances we conceded were that we lost the ball easily in midfield and we could be counter-attacked. Ryan always takes care of the ball but everyone can lose it, so I am not sure how much we missed him last week.

"But it is clear Ryan had a big impact last year. People probably forgot how he got suspended; one was for a dive. One team is too honest in this league - Cody (Gakpo) got a push in his back v Palace. We are very clean, never dive and we have a suspension now for a player diving for a first yellow card last year.

"Macca (Alexis Mac Allister) had a bit of a different pre-season than we would like but he is back fit now, so I still have a choice to make." 

Wirtz and Frimpong expectations

Liverpool will face the Cherries with a raft of new additions, including Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong. The Reds manager is confident both will adjust to the demands of the Premier League in quick time.

On Wirtz, Slot stated: "He might be young, but he's already won a lot, so I don't think...we can see him as a young player but he is experienced, I don't see him as that.

"Won the Bundesliga, plays for Germany and his mentality is his biggest strength. Which says a lot because you see him play and you think: 'Are you serious!?' He doesn't get distracted by the transfer fee. Good players always find a way to play good football."  

Meanwhile, on Frimpong, Slot says he and fellow right-back Conor Bradley will bring out the best in each other.

He continued: "In my opinion, Jeremie and Conor are similar, but Jeremie is maybe better in one-v-ones than Conor. If you play against these two, you know you have to be aware of them, so maybe Mo (Salah) gets more space. 

"So it's different types but I think both types and Trent (Alexander-Arnold) proved it with Mo, he brought the best out of Mo and we think the same will happen with Conor and Jeremie, with Mo."

Liverpool face Bournemouth as overwhelming favourites, though Slot says no one at Anfield will be taking things for granted.

He said, "Bournemouth are intense, we won 3-0 at Anfield but if you look at the game, they scored, which was fractionally offside and then three times we were very fast in moving the ball back forward, and at half-time we were 3-0 up.

"In Holland, I think that is 5-0 but they kept going after half-time and that is their mentality. So away it was even more difficult, so very good team and manager."