Two months later than initially supposed, Arne Slot can have his first expertise of managing in a Merseyside derby on Wednesday evening, however he already appears to have an concept of what to anticipate from the fixture.
Liverpool had been meant to face Everton at Goodison Park in early December, however the recreation was postponed because of the results of Storm Darragh, with the stadium internet hosting its last rendition of the native rivalry tomorrow.
It’s a primary assembly of the golf equipment in nearly 10 months since a 2-0 win for the Toffees all however ended the Reds’ desires of profitable the Premier League in Jurgen Klopp’s last season in cost.
Slot makes cheeky Everton remark
Slot has watched again that conflict from final April and was instantly struck by how usually Andy Madley awarded free kicks to Everton, notably within the first couple of minutes of the sport.
The Reds’ head coach stated in his press convention forward of tomorrow’s match (through Liverpool FC on YouTube): “I’ve seen the sport of final season, for instance, and I feel we had been fairly prepared as a result of after 10 minutes the referee blew his whistle 11 instances, and 10 instances in favour of Everton. The Liverpool gamers had been able to compete, however each time they touched them it was a free kick!
“I assume our gamers are prepared for an additional battle tomorrow, for the easy purpose that they’ve been prepared for the entire season and lots of of them are skilled.”
Hopefully refereeing choices received’t dominate the post-match dialogue
Though Slot is barely exagerrating with the numbers that he quoted – as per Sofascore, Everton had been awarded 9 free kicks within the first half and 13 in complete that evening – Liverpool nonetheless had greater than twice as many fouls given towards them as the house aspect, regardless of dominating when it comes to pictures, xG and possession.
The environment for a Goodison Park derby is all the time intense, and it’ll be much more febrile tomorrow contemplating that it’ll be the final time this fixture takes place on the stadium earlier than the Toffees transfer to Bramley-Moore Dock later this yr.
Michael Oliver is the person within the center on Wednesday evening, and hopefully a referee of his expertise received’t be simply swayed by a raucous residence crowd, and that he can keep away from the type of controversy which surrounded his dismissal of Myles Lewis-Skelly in Arsenal’s latest win away to Wolves.
We’re hoping for 2 issues from tomorrow’s recreation – that refereeing choices don’t dominate the post-match dialogue, and clearly that Liverpool win at Everton’s residence floor for less than the third time since October 2011!