Liverpool have continued their unbeaten run beyond the Premier League as the Reds secured a win against Diego Simone’s Atlético de Madrid on Wednesday.
Now, Arne Slot’s men will carry on with their English Premier League campaign at Anfield in a Merseyside Derby against Everton.
Before the match, the Dutchman talked about the historical rivalry between the two clubs, their current form and also paid respect to their actions during the passing of Diogo Jota.
“When we faced them last season, they had a very good spell as well – and it wasn’t a spell because they just kept on going with that and into this season again also.
“Indeed, there is rivalry, but what I also liked and I want to emphasise in this moment as well is what they did when Diogo passed away, coming to Anfield, being there, and of course they showed their respect from sporting director to sporting director and all these kinds of things.”
“So, in these moments, it’s so nice to see that in those tragedies, the rivalry is still there, but the respect towards both is also there. So yeah, looking forward to the game tomorrow because every Anfield game is special, but this derby is even more special”, Slot told the press.
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On new signings and their first Merseyside Derby experience
Slot expects players like Virgil van Dijk to guide the new players through the derby experience (Credits: Imago Images)
Slot is confident in the new signings’ ability to step up on such occasions, considering their experience. He explained how players like Florian Wirtz have played games of similar stature, and it won’t be much different from those encounters.
The Dutch gaffer expects players like Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah to walk the new players through the derby experience. All in all, the manager isn’t expecting his pupils to be clueless, considering their history.
“We have to prepare them for that and of course, maybe Virgil, Mo and these kinds of players will tell the new ones what they can expect.”
“But we are not talking about rookies, it’s not like these players play for the first time in a full stadium or for the first time in these kinds of games.”
“If you talk about Florian, he has played so many special games in his career already, and I can come up with all the others as well. Yes, it’s special, but it is not miles off other special games they have played.”
