Premier League leaders Liverpool face Everton at Goodison Park tonight in what is the famed stadium’s final Merseyside derby.
The original fixture was postponed in December due to Storm Darragh, and since then Liverpool have continued to dominate in the league, opening up a six-point gap over Arsenal in second place. With this game serving as Liverpool’s game in hand, the Reds can go nine points clear with a win tonight.
Meanwhile, Everton have improved since the re-appointment of David Moyes in January, with the Toffees sitting nine points above the relegation zone with a game in hand.
And there is plenty more than pride to play for at Goodison, with the hosts looking to strike a blow in the title race against their cross-city rivals.
Follow all the latest build-up, team news and updates from Goodison Park below:
David Moyes determined to bridge gap to Liverpool
David Moyes accepts Everton have to find a way to bridge the “gulf” between them and the Liverpool squad in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
The 122nd and final encounter against their Stanley Park neighbours sees one of the widest gaps between the two teams, with the Reds looking to go nine points clear at the top of the Premier League and their hosts 30 points behind, albeit nine clear of the bottom three.
Everton’s net spend over the last decade is around £300million, most of that excess coming in the early years of the chaotic reign of former owner Farhad Moshiri, but recent seasons have seen a tightening of belts as the club struggled – and failed – to comply with profitability and sustainability rules.
Liverpool have spent over £580m during that time but have been rewarded with Premier League and Champions League titles, in addition to an FA Cup and two League Cups.
Arne Slot on Liverpool’s upcoming run of games
“For me it is not about psychology. For me it is about having nine points or six points, that is the difference, [of a] lead against teams who are able to win so many games in a row. So leave out psychology, it is just going to be crucial to have so many points as possible because the teams we face are able to win every single game in the Premier League.
“In the first half of the season, I said many times, judge the league table after 19 games but the thing is, Arsenal now played one more, but if you look at the games they already had [twice] – City, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Brighton, I think – so they have had quite a lot of teams that are doing really well so that is why it is important to try to extend the lead tomorrow. That is not going to be easy, obviously.”
Arne Slot reveals key factor that gives Arsenal hope in title race – and what Liverpool must do in defining period
Arne Slot believes that taking a nine-point lead in the Premier League wouldn’t strike a psychological blow to Liverpool’s title rivals – but could prove crucial as he eyed Arsenal’s run-in.
League leaders Liverpool play their game in hand against Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday with the chance to go nine points ahead of Arsenal and 12 clear of third-place Nottingham Forest.
And it is the start of five league games in 15 days, with a rearranged trip to Aston Villa, brought forward from March because Liverpool are in the Carabao Cup final, now set for next Wednesday and meaning that Slot’s side could move up to 15 points clear of the Gunners if they beat Unai Emery’s team.
But the Dutchman is aware that Arsenal finished last season strongly and feels they are capable of going on an extended winning run.
David Moyes confronts Liverpool’s key advantage ‘to start building Everton again’
As Arne Slot looked forward to his first Merseyside derby, David Moyes looked back at some of his first 25.
He harked back to Lee Carsley’s winner in 2004, to the game Andy Johnson eviscerated Liverpool two years later. There was the day Luis Suarez scored and dived in front of Moyes, the Uruguayan’s riposte after the Scot had noted his propensity to go to ground. He recalled the time when, as he said, the refereeing was more lenient.
“When it was Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard it was just a question of who was going to kick who first,” he smiled. “I’ve got big memories of that.”
They were very different days to now.
Arne Slot: ‘Nothing good comes from losing a football game’
Arne Slot believes there are no benefits from getting knocked out of the FA Cup, even though it will reduce their workload, as he said Liverpool should be disappointed with both their display and the result against Championship strugglers Plymouth.
He added: “A wise man that once said to me that nothing good comes from losing a football game and I completely agree, so we would have definitely preferred to play six games in 18 days or seven in 21 or eight in 24 because that is the schedule we are in.
“Now with us losing this game, there is one moment where we have a normal week but that is definitely not what we wanted when we went to Plymouth.”
Liverpool issue update on Trent Alexander-Arnold fitness ahead of Merseyside derby
Liverpool will make a late decision on whether to select Trent Alexander-Arnold for the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
The vice-captain has missed their last two games with a thigh injury sustained in the win at Bournemouth but could give them a boost by returning to action at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
Head coach Arne Slot will assess the right-back in training before deciding whether to include him in the squad but will be without fellow defender Joe Gomez as he admitted he is worried by the injury he suffered in their FA Cup exit at Plymouth.
Arne Slot defends Liverpool team selection and says FA Cup line-up ‘done for a reason’
Arne Slot declared his weakened FA Cup line-up at Plymouth was done “for a reason” as Liverpool faced up to a shock exit to Championship strugglers and criticism his team selection had devalued the competition.
Ryan Hardie’s second-half penalty secured a famous 1-0 win for Plymouth, rock bottom in the Championship, against the Premier League leaders in Sunday’s fourth-round tie at Home Park.
In what was Liverpool’s 13th game since Boxing Day and ahead of Wednesday’s Merseyside derby at Everton, Slot made 10 changes from the side which had dismantled Tottenham three days earlier to reach the Carabao Cup final.
Bournemouth burst Everton’s bubble to end David Moyes’ FA Cup dream
Bournemouth burst Everton’s bubble to end David Moyes’ dream of bringing silverware back to the club – for this season at least – with a 2-0 FA Cup fourth-round victory.
After three successive league wins had eased relegation fears, the Scot hoped the cup would afford his players a release from the relentless pressure of the last couple of years, but the high-energy Cherries are not such accommodating opponents.
In Antoine Semenyo they have a livewire winger who has caused many defenders a problem and James Tarkowski will be pleased to see the back of the Ghana international after enduring a nightmare opening 45 minutes.
Arne Slot pinpoints where Liverpool went wrong in shock FA Cup defeat to Plymouth
The Reds saw their quadruple hopes dashed in the 1-0 defeat at Home Park after a Ryan Hardie penalty following Harvey Elliott handball.
And while Slot was quick to give credit to Miron Muslic’s side, the Dutch coach immediately highlighted just where the Premier League leaders fell short on a rare off day.
Liverpool stunned by Plymouth as quadruple hopes ended by FA Cup shock
Plymouth produced a huge FA Cup upset as Premier League leaders Liverpool were knocked out by the bottom club in the Championship to end hopes of a historic quadruple.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot gambled with a weakened side in Devon and literally paid the penalty as Ryan Hardie’s second-half spot-kick gave Plymouth a famous 1-0 win and sent them into the fifth round of the competition.
It was only the fourth time that the team starting the day at the top of the Premier League has been eliminated from the FA Cup by a side from outside the top flight.
Source: independent.co.uk
