Arne Slot defends Liverpool ahead of Merseyside Derby and talks about watching Red against Everton on Goodison

Liverpool boss Arne Slot defended Saturday’s Merseyside Derby and a considerable summer spending with Everton.

And while a lot has been done with the Merseyside club transfer costs, slots have been keen to highlight the roughly £230 million that the club has recovered from player sales this summer.

Slot states:

“The clubs never sell and don’t buy. Last season we didn’t have a big team (this summer) and we sold players and brought them in. That’s the exception to British football.”

“I played a lot of time with the same player (last season),” added the Dutchman. “And I think that will cost us at the end of March and the League Cup final (against Newcastle).

“But from November to March, that was the most difficult time here in England, and I think we won the league because I was always consistent in playing the same players.

“But that was also why we weren’t at the best in the two weeks of March.”

Liverpool’s opponents on Saturday were supported by their own summer business earlier this semester.

Slot expects better results and cooler heads than Goodison Park’s March Merseyside Derby. The Dutch were sent for opposition to referee Michael Oliver that day after James Tarkowski scored a 98th minute goal and claimed a 2-2 draw.

He was later fined £70,000 and handed him a two-match touchline ban.

“I’m looking for a 1% that can put everything in Everton and make a difference,” Slot said. “And the judge’s decision will probably affect 10% or 50% of what will happen.

“He’s a human and it’s off your hands, and it can be difficult to handle because you want to affect almost everything.

“I’ve been involved in a derby game enough to know they can get to you.”

McCoist put together the interview with some cheeky final questions. Which competition will Liverpool win this season – the Premier League or the Champions League?

“If you can only win one, it’s very difficult to choose,” admitted Slot. “That’s almost impossible. But I think I’ll go to the Champions League this time.”

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