Arne Slot rejected the theory that Liverpool could benefit from the defeat of the FA Cup on Sunday against Plymouth Argyle and asked her team to show a “different side of us” when they face the rivals of the Everton Merseyside tomorrow night.
Liverpool aligned a weakened team at home park on weekends and climbed while the championship fighters won 1-0 to end the hopes of a quadruple.
Some experts have suggested that being out of competition could strengthen the chances of success of Liverpool in the Premier League, in the Champions League and in the EFL Cup – they meet Newcastle in the final at Wembley next month – but Slot was not looking for positive points for what was an embarrassing setback.
He said, “There was a sage who said to me once, nothing good has just lost a football match and I completely agree.
“We would certainly have prepared to play six games in 18 days or seven in 21 or eight in 24 because it is the calendar in which we are. Now we lose this match, a time ago when we have a normal week, but that’s not what we wanted when we went to Plymouth. »»
On the MerseySide derby 👊🔴 pic.twitter.com/vvidgwsfb1
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 10, 2025
Slot would have become stronger in Plymouth
Slot said he intended to play a stronger team against Plymouth, but that the circumstances meant that his hands were linked.
“It was difficult because the plan was to play with Joe [Gomez] for 60 minutes or more. The plan was to start Curtis [Jones] But he came on Sunday and said he didn’t feel good enough to play, so all of a sudden, we missed two important players, “he said.
“I think people know Darwin [Nunez’s] Situation that he became a dad one or two days before the match and that it happened in Spain, so he arrived a little later.
“There were circumstances that were not perfect with regard to Plymouth. The idea was to play with an even stronger team, but this team should have always been able to win this match and the fact that we did not do it and the fact that we did not do it against PSV Also tell us that these players really need these games to get the most out of them.
“It is so difficult to get the most out of them if they barely play games and that is still why it is disappointing for them.”
Van Dijk and Salah to come back
Slot will feed its large cannons when Liverpool will make the short trip through Stanley Park with people like Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah restored in the starting program.
And he expects a response from the reverse of the weekend.
He said, “It should have an impact because if you work in a club like this, you should compete for each trophy, we have said it from the start.
“We beat Accrington Stanley but losing against Plymouth is of course not acceptable. As a team and I think our fans are disappointed with this result.
“We have to show a different side of us tomorrow because it was not only the result, the performance was far from what the Liverpool standards are also.”
Ready for the last Merseyid derby at Goodison Park 👊🔴 pic.twitter.com/zzi2tfg6g1
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 11, 2025
Goodison ready for the final derby
It will be the last Merseyid derby to play Goodison Park before Everton moved to their new stadium in Bramley Moore Dock and the atmosphere is likely to be electric.
“I think that is an additional reason why the atmosphere will be even better than all the previous ones,” said Slot. “I haven’t been before, but people tell me about Goodison Park, as in Anfield, it’s always a fantastic atmosphere.
“You must be mentally strong as a team outside. When you have the ball, you must be as calm as possible, but it is not the first time for these players that they have played in atmospheres like this, so I hope they can focus on this that they must do.
“I suppose that our players are ready for another battle tomorrow for the simple reason that they have been ready for the whole season and many of them are experienced in this equality.”
Trent could come back
Gomez, who drink in Plymouth after only 11 minutes, is absent, but Trent Alexander-Arnold could be able to come back.
“Trent did part of a training session with us yesterday, so let’s see how it is today,” said Slot. “He will train with us again today, then we will decide if we will take him to the match.
“Joe is the same leg again where he was injured the last time, so we assess this, but he will certainly not be available tomorrow. This is a concern [that it is the same leg]. “”
