John Arne Riise talks Liverpool's transfers

John Arne Riise talks Liverpool transfers & explains why he couldn't acknowledge fans on the day he broke Alan Smith's ankle against Man United.

• "I'm impressed with how quickly things have changed... the players must've been working really hard in pre-season to put his ideas in place."
• [On Arne Slot] "I just love the way he speaks; he speaks very good English, and he's clearly very thoughtful before he speaks... he doesn't want to say too much. I think that if we - as outsiders - are noticing this trait in him already, then I can only imagine how the players are finding him to work with."
• "I feel like a couple of other sides are maybe not as strong as they were last season, so while I'd be very surprised if we're fighting for the title, I think we'll easily get in the top four."
• [Man United score prediction] "I'm thinking Liverpool will win 2-0 - that's what I'm hoping for. I think Luiz Diaz and Mo Salah will score again."
• "When I went over to Alan [Smith] and saw his ankle, just hanging there, loose, it was sickening. Nobody wants to see that on the pitch. I wasn't going to thank the fans for singing that song after they changed the words like that; I couldn't and wouldn't thank them because it was very, very harsh on Alan."
  

What's impressed me most is just how in control Liverpool have looked in their first two games under the new manager. The way they want to play, in possession, defensively... you know, normally it takes time for a new manager to come in and change these things, especially when you're taking over from a guy who has been in charge for eight years. Jurgen Klopp's style was completely different, attacks were much quicker and it was all about getting forward, whereas now it's more about keeping possession and building up. I'm impressed with how quickly things have changed... the players must've been working really hard in pre-season to put his ideas in place.  

My big question heading into this summer, as far as transfers were concerned, was whether or not the club would be able to keep hold of those big names; you know, Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah. That was my main concern, first of all. But it looks like they're staying, which is really good.  

But, like Mr Slot has already said, he's taken over a squad which was already really strong - he only wants signings which he knows for sure will make the starting eleven stronger. I do think they'll bring someone in before the window closes, but a lot might depend on who leaves the club, too. I think - if the right player is available - they should get a midfielder in; that's where I think they should look to strengthen. Look, at the moment they look very good, and very strong, but as the season goes on, and you're playing more matches, and fatigue and injuries start to kick in, that's when the real issues start with how big the squad is.

Arne Slot doesn't need to panic buy at all, though, because he inherited such a strong squad. 

When Arne Slot speaks, he looks so in control. You know, he looks so calm. It's similar to when Jurgen Klopp took over eight years ago. I saw his first press conference, and you could just see the confidence in him, and who he was, and the style of football he was going to bring. And I see the same with Slot. 

I just love the way he speaks; he speaks very good English, and he's clearly very thoughtful before he speaks... he doesn't want to say too much. I think that if we - as outsiders - are noticing this trait in him already, then I can only imagine how the players are finding him to work with, when they're having tactical meetings, and in training. 

When I'm seeing him in press conferences, I'm just smiling, I'm calm, because this uy clearly knows what he's doing.

The first two games have been impressive and you can't ask for much more; two clean sheets, two comfortable wins. But they haven't been against the strongest of sides yet in Ipswich and Brentford. So we still have to see how they're going to deal with teams who you'd expect to be at the top end of the table by the end of the season. 

I don't expect Liverpool to fight for the title. It takes time, putting together a title challenge, and so I don't think the manager should be judged on how far he takes Arsenal and Manchester City in the title race. But so far, it's been pretty good, and I feel like a couple of other sides are maybe not as strong as they were last season, so while I'd be very surprised if we're fighting for the title, I think we'll easily get in the top four. 

Watching England in the European Championships in the summer, they put Trent Alexander-Arnold in centre-midfield. Now, I think he's one of the best players in the world when it comes to his distribution and his vision. I really like the role he has for Liverpool - and while there's an element of freedom in there, it's not like he's just been told he can do what he wants. 

I do see him more and more in the central midfield area, because that's where he can use his best skills, which are in offense As a defender, as a right-back, most of the best teams will attack his side, because they'll know his weakness is in defending.  

In my opinion, I see Trent as a sitting midfielder, and it's just for that reason; the best teams in Europe will exploit his weaknesses in defence. 

If we were further into the season, it would be easier to predict how this game is going to go, because we'd know exactly how teams are setting up. But, so early in the season, it's hard to see where Manchester United stand at this moment in time. Liverpool look strong and have been more than convincing in their first two games, while United lost at the weekend. Liverpool have to be favourites to win here, and I think they will do it. I always believe in Liverpool when it comes to this fixture, but it's hard because if there's one game you know United players and fans will be up for, it's Liverpool. It's this game.  

That's why I'm actually glad, in a way, that the game has come so early in the season, because the players are fit, they're strong, they're fresh, and they want to maintain this perfect start to the season. I'm thinking Liverpool will win 2-0 - that's what I'm hoping for. I think Luiz Diaz and Mo Salah will score again. 

From what I remember, Liverpool fans changed my song on that day, from "I wanna know, how you scored that goal" to "I wanna know, how you broke his leg" - I couldn't clap the fans or thank them on that day, for that. Yes, you should have rivalry between teams, for sure, but there comes a point where the human being, and their career, is more important.  

When I went over to Alan [Smith] and saw his ankle, just hanging there, loose, it was sickening. Nobody wants to see that on the pitch. I wasn't going to thank the fans for singing that song after they changed the words like that; I couldn't and wouldn't thank them because it was very, very harsh on Alan. 

I spoke to Alan later on that evening, and I know that ankle injury was really, really bad for him. Look, I've always spoke openly about being a bit of an idiot on the pitch, and doing everything I could to win, because that was just who I was - but not to that extent. You know, I don't want to see people getting injured, that's not professional. It made me realise that respect on the pitch is really important, between players, particularly with injuries. When you see someone clearly in pain, then you should be there to support them and help them, regardless of which team they're from. 

I reached out to Alan in the evening and sent him a few texts afterwards, just to see how his rehabilitation was going, but nothing more since then. People get injured in games, that's always going to happen, but the fact that I played a part in that incident, I just wanted to make sure he was OK afterwards. 

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