Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool, hopes that his first-choice side will handle the emotion of the last Merseyside Derby of Goodison Park better than the second string, the “unacceptable” performance led them to be dumped by Plymouth from the FA Cup.
The gamble of the Dutchman in the omission of nine on the side that Tottenham defeated to continue last Thursday to the Carabao Cup final resulted in a 1-0 defeat of the bottom club of the championship on Sunday.
That starting XI still included nine senior squad players, including a forward line of Federico Chiesa, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz, but they could not find a way to break down dedicated and organized opponents.
The will of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo will all be back for Everton's 122nd and the last derby in their historic house, where the atmosphere is likely to be canceled even more than usual.
“It should have an impact, because if you work at a club like this, you have to compete for every trophy. Loss against Plymouth is not acceptable,” said Liverpool's Cup -Exit Slot.
“Now we have to show another side of us because it was not only the result, but the implementation was far from whatever the Liverpool standards are.
“It will probably be a fantastic atmosphere and that is never easy to play against, because every time they cross the line halfway or get a corner that will encourage the fans for that and then you have to be mentally strong as an out team To resist all that.
“You still have to be focused on what you have to do: defend the corner, defend the set piece and when you are as calm as you can.
“It is not the first time that these players play in an atmosphere like this. I hope they can concentrate on what they have to do, but it is not only tactical, you also have to stand up for those emotions.
“I also noticed the intensity of the tackles in the Plymouth game, how aggressive they were, was a quality of their players, but it was certainly because of the emotions in the stadium, so we have to be ready.”
Finally said that his players should show “a cool head but not cool legs” in the kettle of a goodison derby, who lost for the first time since 2010 last April.
“Every time you play against a team that wants to fight with you – and that is almost every time we play against every opponent, but maybe this one more – you have to be ready,” added the Dutchman, whose team would Being able to go nine points clearly at the top of the table with victory.
“You have to run just as much, just as intense in tackles, not go over the line, but are cool enough to play a good and sturdy tackle.
“That is where it starts and nine from 10 times after 10 or 15 minutes a game settles a bit and then you can start thinking more about playing football.
“For example, I saw the game of last season and we were completely ready because the referee had blown his whistle 11 times after 10 minutes and it was 10 times for Everton.
“The Liverpool players were ready to compete, but every time they touch them it was a free kick, so I assume our players are ready for a new battle for the simple reason that they have been ready all season. “
Trent Alexander-Arnold has missed the last two games with a small injury, but Slot is hopeful that he could be available after parts of the training returned.
Colleague defender Joe Gomez looks at another enchantment on the sidelines after a repeat of the hamstring injury that he postponed in January.
Analysis: Slot calls for cool heads, not cool legs, for definitive Goodison Derby
Sky Sports News reporter Vinny O'Connor in the AXA Training Center:
“Arne Slot quoted a wise man who once said to him:” Nothing good comes from losing a football match “.
“That brought up his mood after he had already admitted that missing the chance to go for the four -fold should have an impact so early, because you should compete for every trophy at a club like this.
“He repeated losing Plymouth is unacceptable and now, in the Merseyside Derby, they have to show a different side because the result and performance were far from the expected standards.
“The team that he carried out was of course also very different. In Goodison Park we can expect Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahim Konate, Alisson, Andy Robertson, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai or Curtis Jones, time His least back to the starting line-up.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold will also train for the game and a decision about whether he is ready to return, will be taken from there.
“Joe Gomez is absolutely out and there is concern about the fact that he still suffered a hamstring injury in the same leg, but just returned.
“Apart from that, Slot again has the best part of a fully suitable team to choose the last Goodison Park Merseyside Derby.
“Both parties are bound by 41 victories in the famous old stadium and given the emotion that will at least be one of the home support, Slot calls for cool heads, but no cool legs.
“So calmness of the Spirit while maintaining the intensity of working speed and dedication is the key, and although Liverpool has a six -point benefit at the top of the Premier League, the Dutchman believes that they cannot delay.
“He says: 'You can't have any games where you don't stand on top of your game. Because then suddenly another team stores you. That's what the Premier League is, that's why it's such an exciting competition and such a beautiful competition To work in '.
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