Liverpool manager Arne Slot faced the media ahead of Sunday's blockbuster Premier League clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford (kick-off 15:30 BST), and the update on his squad's fitness brought both good news and tempered expectations.

First, the headline: Mohamed Salah will miss the trip to Old Trafford. Slot confirmed the Egyptian superstar is nursing a "minor injury," ruling him out of Sunday's fixture. However, in a boost for both Liverpool and the upcoming World Cup, Slot assured fans that Salah's setback is not serious. "It is a big relief that his injury is minor and he is able to play for us and at the World Cup," Slot said. "If a player deserves a big send off, then it is Mo." The club expects him back for the final stretch of the season, but not in time for this weekend's showdown.

On the goalkeeping front, Alisson Becker is "close" to returning to full training—but he hasn't quite made it there yet. Slot drew a fascinating tactical distinction between outfield players and keepers when discussing recovery timelines. "There is a difference between an outfield player and a goalkeeper in terms of coming back," he explained. "Players need to run much more than goalkeepers do. With outfield players, it's usually that the fitness levels are not at the intensity required for the Premier League."

Despite winning their last three matches, Slot was refreshingly honest about his team's performances. "We've shown already that we can play much better," he admitted. "In many of these games, we were very unlucky with the outcome. In the last three games, I wouldn't say we didn't deserve to win, but we were more lucky than we've ever been this season." He believes his squad can operate "at a much higher level" than what they've displayed recently.

The injury crisis has clearly taken its toll. "This team is capable of much more, but it would be helpful if everyone is available once in a while—and that hasn't been the situation throughout the whole season," Slot noted. "It's very extreme at the moment, the amount of players we have missing."

One area of concern has been converting chances—a persistent issue this campaign. Slot pointed to the absence of key attackers, saying, "One of the players that we thought could score a lot of goals for us [Alexander Isak] has hardly been available."

Finally, on the possibility of adding to his backroom staff this summer, Slot was direct: "We all know we've lost a member of staff during the season. We parted ways [with Aaron Briggs], so I think it makes complete sense for this club if someone is leaving in a certain department that we look to strengthen."

With Old Trafford looming and key players sidelined, Liverpool will need every bit of that "luck" Slot mentioned—and perhaps a new kit or two to inspire a gritty performance on the road.