Arne Slot asked journalists a knowing question after the Liverpool press conference ended
Arne Slot asked journalists a knowing question after the Liverpool press conference ended
Arne Slot had a question of his own to ask once the cameras stopped rolling at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. “Who will you be supporting tomorrow?”
Uttered with a wry smile in the direction of one reporter in particular, he was already well-aware of the answer and knew full well that it would not be Liverpool.
Now six months into his Reds reign, and the Dutchman is familiar with his regular sparring partners from the media. At home both at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby and at Anfield, his feet are firmly under the table. But he is not yet comfortable at the top of the table.
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Understandably, he is taking nothing for granted after Liverpool saw their lead reduced to seven points courtesy of a midweek 3-3 draw away at Newcastle United.
Quite rightly, too. It is only December, after all, while the Reds’ next outing acts as Slot’s Merseyside derby debut. On one hand, it’s just another game for Liverpool as they look to build on an incredible start to the Dutch head coach’s reign that has seen them win 18 of 21 matches.
But acting as potentially the last every derby clash with Everton at Goodison Park, it is also something entirely different for Slot to contend with.
A relaxed figure at the AXA Training Centre ahead of Saturday lunchtime’s trip across Stanley Park, the Reds’ preparations are the same as they would be for any other game. But Slot is also expecting a special occasion.
“I think it is going to be special for everyone, for all the fans involved, for all the players and as well for the managers,” he said. “To be part is already special and to be part of the last at Goodison Park makes it even more special.
“But it is only a nice experience if the result goes your way. That is what we are focusing on most for this game.
“I never speak about three points before a game, you can only talk after, especially if you face a team like Everton who have done so well in the last three or four games, three clean sheets, very good game during the week against Wolves.
“We know we have to be ready for a tough game against a good side, a well-managed side as well.
“Probably the fans will be loud, I would maybe louder than the Newcastle fans but probably these ones will be louder so we have to be prepared for everything.”
Liverpool were stung the last time they travelled to Goodison, losing 2-0 back in April. Already wounded and on their way out of the Premier League title race, Everton supporters would crow at how they had delivered the seemingly fatal blow.
“You lost the league at Goodison Park!” has been a Blues favourite across Merseyside ever since, boasting local bragging rights for the past eight months.
Slot has studied that match and was surprised by one thing that contributed to Liverpool’s undoing, with one word in particular a recurring feature in what he will demand from his side on Saturday lunchtime. But it is not anything new.
“People told me about it but the main thing I have to know is their playing style,” he said of Everton. “What we can expect. You need to be aggressive if you go over there because they will be aggressive as well but you need to be aggressive in a smart way.
“Last season we were very aggressive when we went out there because I watched the game back yesterday but after half an hour I was a bit surprised because Liverpool had the ball most of the time and there were 10 fouls made by Liverpool players and only one by an Everton player.
“So we have to be aggressive but in a smart way, especially because they are a big threat from set-pieces so every time we give away an unnecessary free-kick that is not smart. So yes, be aggressive but in a concentrated and smart way.
“We want to be aggressive, on the front foot in every game we play and that is not going to be different now but we always make a game plan where we try to adjust for the threats the other teams have and where we think we can hurt them.
“That is the way we will look at this game but every game if you want to have a chance to win you have to be very aggressive, you have to run a lot and that is one of their strengths as well.
“They are a very hard-working team so if you want to talk about tactics you first have to match their work-rate and that is what we can as we have shown in all the games we have played until now that we are a team who works really hard as well.
“That is what we need when we go to Everton because the team works really hard and the fans will probably help them working even harder.”
So it’s business as usual for Slot and Liverpool on Saturday, with their preparations for the derby the same as they would be for any other match. But the Dutchman is still anticipating something a little bit more against the Blues.
The standard friendly pre-match derby banter was at least on show at the AXA Training Centre on Friday, as highlighted by his post-press conference query.
Given how his media briefing started with Slot joking “What do you think the answer is going to be?” when asked about Virgil van Dijk’s contract situation, he might have perhaps expected a similar retort back from the reporter in question after querying his Merseyside allegiances. His press conference could have easily finished how it started.
Chuckling away as he left the media room following the exchange, those of a Liverpool persuasion will only hope he has the last laugh once again when leaving Goodison Park on Saturday.