Arne Slot has issued a strong rallying call to his players ahead of what could be the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, writes Josh Wright at the AXA Training Centre.
Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off will be the Liverpool manager’s first experience of the famous game – but he is well aware of the history between the two clubs.
Last season’s fixture saw Everton run out 2-0 winners in a rare derby victory. Slot revealed he has watched the game in preparation for tomorrow’s match, and the Dutchman is clear on where the game could be won or lost.
He said: “You need to be aggressive if you go over there because they will be as well, but you need to be aggressive in a smart way.
“Last season we were very aggressive when we went out there, because I watched the game back yesterday. And after half an hour I was a bit surprised because Liverpool had most of the ball but there were 10 fouls made by Liverpool players and only one made by an Everton player.
“We want to be aggressive and on the front foot in every game we play, so that won’t change now, but we always make a game plan where we try to adjust to the threats the other team have and where we think we can hurt them. That is the way we will look at this game as well.”
Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister will miss the derby after accumulating five yellow cards in the Premier League this season.
The Argentinian picked up his sanction following a late challenge on Newcastle’s Fabian Schar just 20 minutes into the 3-3 draw on Wednesday.
The Reds boss does not believe the Argentine should have been penalised for his actions.
He said: “We hardly make any fouls. And the Mac Allister one against Newcastle, you could argue if you saw all the decisions afterwards, if it was so correct that he got a yellow for that.
“But you know during the season players will get suspended, and it is during those moments we realise we could have used him but the good thing for us is we have got the main four midfielders who have played with Dom (Szoboszlai), Ryan (Gravenberch), Curtis (Jones) and Macca. One of them is not available but we have three left.
“That line is not our main worry at the moment.”
Midfield partner Ryan Gravenberch is also just one yellow card away from suspension after picking up a yellow card in the first half of Liverpool’s three previous fixtures.
The 22-year-old was replaced in the second half of the Newcastle game in midweek but, according to Slot, has been almost impossible to leave out of the starting XI this season.
He said: “When it comes to Ryan, the reason why I took him off is he has played almost every game.
“Every game he played it was almost impossible for me to take him off because he has played so well. It was like what if I take him off, what will happen to the team then? It is a bit exaggerated, but you know what I mean.
“This game wasn’t his best, similar to the rest of the team, but this was a game where I felt someone else could do at the minimum the same and we can rest him as well.”
Liverpool will be without a number of key players at Goodison due to injury. Slot confirmed goalkeeper Alisson, Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott are “close to recovery.” Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate, Kostas Tsimikas and Conor Bradley are all further away from a return to action.
