Arne Slot admits Liverpool concerns before West Ham clash and offers Alisson update

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has once again accepted plaudits for his side's impressive start to the season, though has issued a warning that the Reds' lack of goals conceded made be due in part to how the fixture schedule has panned out.

The Dutchman addressed reporters on Tuesday morning, ahead of the looming League Cup match against West Ham United, in which Liverpool are bidding to keep their trophy defence intact.

So far this season the Reds have conceded only one goal, which came during the 1-0 shock defeat to Nottingham Forest which sits as the only blemish on Slot's record thus far.

Speaking about the solid shut-out so far, Slot offered a note of concern, suggesting that the Reds have had an element of kind favour on their side.

The Dutchman said: "Defence has been really good although in our last game I think we needed our goalkeeper too many times to keep the clean sheet... there are lot of difficult teams we still have to place so let's see where we are in terms of conceding goals. Maybe the fixture list has been kind to us in terms of the league table."

Slot then turned his attention to injured goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who missed the recent home match against Bournemouth due to concerns around a hamstring strain.

Young Irishman Caoimhin Kelleher is once again set to step in between the stick, after giving a positive account of himself against the Cherries.

Slot said: "It's for sure Caoimh (Kelleher) will start. Alisson is getting there but the game is coming a bit too early. We're looking at the weekend against Wolves but it's tight."

Alisson is now expected to have his minutes carefully managed in order to be available again for first team selection. Slot, meanwhile, insists he is not surprised by the level of Kelleher each time he is called into the fold.

He added: "I wasn't surprised at all at his performance. He was very good in pre-season already. It's a good thing for us because we have two really good goalkeepers and our third one (Jaros) is also a really strong goalkeeper.

"It was pleasing to see he kept a clean sheet. He had to act a few times but he did it really well."

Liverpool are also expected to hand fiercely talentled 17-year-old Trey Nyoni another first team opportunity for the cup visit of West Ham, though Slot remained coy when asked about the teen's selection.

"Let's see first how everyone comes in this morning and then we'll make a plan for every individual," he said.

"They way I look at it now there will be a fair chance for him to be in our squad rather than the U21s."