Slot demands Reds bounce back from Plymouth horror show

Arne Slot dismissed the theory that Liverpool could benefit from Sunday’s shock FA Cup defeat to Plymouth Argyle and demanded his team show a “different side of us” when they face Merseyside rivals Everton tomorrow night.

Liverpool fielded a weakened team at Home Park at the weekend and came unstuck as the Championship strugglers won 1-0 to end the Reds’ hopes of a quadruple.

Some pundits suggested being out of one competition could strengthen Liverpool’s chances of success in the Premier League, Champions League and EFL Cup – they meet Newcastle in the final at Wembley next month – but Slot was not looking for positives for what was an embarrassing setback.

He said: “There was a wise man that once said to me, nothing good comes from losing a football game and I completely agree.

“We would definitely have prepared to play six games in 18 days or seven in 21 or eight in 24 because that’s the schedule we are in. Now with us losing this game, there is one moment that we have a normal week, but that is definitely not what we wanted when we went to Plymouth.”

Onto the Merseyside derby 👊🔴 pic.twitter.com/VvidgWSFb1

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 10, 2025

Slot would have gone stronger at Plymouth

Slot said he intended to play a stronger team against Plymouth but circumstances meant his hands were tied.

“It was difficult because the plan was to play with Joe [Gomez] for 60 minutes or longer. The plan was to start Curtis [Jones] but he came on Sunday and said he didn’t feel well enough to play so then 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 game and that happened in Spain so he came in a bit later.

“There were some circumstances that weren’t perfect when it comes to Plymouth. The idea was to play with an even stronger team but that team still should have been able to win that game and the fact that we didn’t and the fact that we didn’t against PSV as well also tells us that these players definitely need these games to get the best out of them.

“It is so difficult to get the best out of them if they hardly play any games and that’s again why it’s disappointing for them.”

Van Dijk and Salah to come back in

Slot will field his big guns when Liverpool make the short trip across Stanley Park with the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah restored to the starting line-up.

And he is expecting a response from the weekend setback. 

He said: “It should have an impact because if you are working at a club like this, you should compete for every trophy, we’ve said this from the start.

“We beat Accrington Stanley but to lose to Plymouth is, of course, not acceptable. As a team and I think our fans are disappointed by that result.

“We have to show a different side of us tomorrow because it was not only the result, the performance was far from what Liverpool standards are as well.”

Ready for the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park 👊🔴 pic.twitter.com/zzI2TfG6G1

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 11, 2025

Goodison ready for final derby

It will be the final Merseyside derby to be played at Goodison Park before Everton move to their new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock and the atmosphere is likely to be electric.

“I think it’s an extra reason why the atmosphere will be even better than all the ones before,” said Slot. “I haven’t been to one before but people tell me at Goodison Park, as at Anfield, it is always a fantastic atmosphere.

“You have to be mentally strong as the away team. When you have the ball you have to be as calm as you can but it is not the first time for these players that they are playing in atmospheres like this so I hope they can focus on what they have to do.

“I assume 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 tie.”

Trent could return

Gomez, who limped off at Plymouth after just 11 minutes, is out but Trent Alexander-Arnold could be fit to return.

“Trent has done part of a training session with us yesterday so let’s see how he is today,” said Slot. “He will train hopefully with us again today and then we will decide if we take him to the game.

“Joe, it’s the same leg again where he had the injury last time so we are still assessing that but he will definitely not be available tomorrow. It is a concern [that it is the same leg].”