Arne Slot Previews Merseyside Derby, Discusses Player Status and Tactics

Liverpool manager Arne Slot addressed the media in advance of Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Everton, scheduled for a 12:30 GMT kick-off. The following are the key points from his news conference: No injured players are anticipated to recover in time for the Merseyside derby, with Alisson being the closest to making his return to action. Slot remarked that the derby “is going to be special for everyone,” adding, “It being the last one at Goodison [Park] makes it even more special.” Regarding his expectations for his first derby, he stated: “It’s only a nice experience if the result goes your way. We know we have to be ready against a tough team. The fans will be loud. We have to be prepared for everything in this game.” He expressed his desire for his team “to be aggressive in a smart way,” explaining that a review of last season’s game showed Liverpool committed too many fouls given their possession statistics. He identified Everton as “a big threat from set pieces,” indicating that “unnecessary free kicks” would hinder his side’s ability to secure a positive result. Addressing Caoimhin Kelleher, who was deemed responsible for Newcastle’s equalizing goal on Wednesday, Slot commented: “If you make a mistake as a goalkeeper it’s difficult for someone else to cover it up for you. He’s always there to help us. We just unfortunately couldn’t be there to help him.” Further discussing Liverpool’s number two goalkeeper, he added: “He’s in a good place, although he’s disappointed like the others for dropping points from a winning situation. He can go into this game with a lot of confidence.” When questioned about the high winds expected on Merseyside, he responded: “Not at the moment but you have to take it into consideration. Not in the line-up but in the execution of the players. It can have an influence.” Alexis Mac Allister is suspended for this match, but Slot conveyed confidence that the team has sufficient available players to cover his absence. Slot also remarked: “You know throughout the season this will happen but it is always in these moments when you feel like ‘oh we could have used him in this one!'” Concerning Jarell Quansah’s performance at right-back on Wednesday, Slot observed: “Quansah played quite a good game. From what I’m told not everyone agrees with me on that. But in his one v ones he had no problems.” Slot drew a comparison between Conor Bradley and Trent Alexander-Arnold, noting that Bradley “he tries to attack the goal and make the overlaps,” whereas Quansah “is more behind the ball.”