Arne Slot has demanded a performance befitting Liverpool's true standards against Everton on Wednesday night, as his table-topping team look to bounce back from their shock FA Cup fourth-round exit.
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Slot's side make the short trip across Stanley Park for the last-ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park still smarting from Sunday's 1-0 defeat by Plymouth Argyle, who are currently propping up the Championship table.
Although he made 10 changes to the starting line-up for that match, head coach Slot is expecting a reaction from his side as the Premier League leaders look to extend their advantage over second-placed Arsenal to nine points.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Liverpool
LIV
|
29 | +42 | 70 |
| 2 |
Arsenal
ARS
|
28 | +28 | 55 |
| 3 |
Nott'm Forest
NFO
|
29 | +14 | 54 |
| 4 |
Chelsea
CHE
|
28 | +17 | 49 |
"It [Sunday's result] should have an impact because if you're working at a club like this you should compete for every trophy," Slot told the media ahead of Wednesday night's match.
"We said this from the start. We beat Accrington Stanley, but then we lost to Plymouth. To go out in the second occasion is of course not acceptable as a team. Our fans as well are disappointed by that result.
"Now we have to show a different side of us tomorrow, because it wasn't only the result, the performance was far from what Liverpool's standards are as well."
Emotional occasion
Slot has never experienced a Merseyside derby in person as a manager or spectator, and is very much looking forward to taking his place in the dugout on what is sure to be an emotionally charged night under the lights at Goodison Park.
"I think it’s an extra reason why the atmosphere will probably be even better than all the occasions before," continued Liverpool's head coach.
"I haven’t been to one [a Merseyside derby] but people tell me at Goodison Park, as at Anfield, it's always a fantastic atmosphere."
Slot is aware that the noise and heat generated from the Everton fans will not be dissimilar to the atmosphere his players encountered at Plymouth.
"I hope they can focus on what they have to do, but it's not only tactical, you also have to stand up to those emotions," he said.
"I noticed in the Plymouth game the intensity of the tackles and how aggressive they were. That was a quality of their players, but it was definitely also because of the emotions in the stadium.
"Fans bring the best out of players. I have experienced this a few times already at Anfield, I experienced it many times at my former club [Feyenoord] and I think the fans will bring the best out of the Everton players again.
"We have to be up for that."
Liverpool team news
Liverpool could have right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold available for Wednesday night's match, but fellow defender Joe Gomez is ruled out.
Alexander-Arnold has missed the Reds’ last two matches and took part in training on Tuesday, but Slot said Gomez "will definitely not be available tomorrow", after he was forced off in the early stages of Sunday’s FA Cup defeat.
See our David Moyes news story for Everton's team news.
