Liverpool head coach Arne Slot will be without first team stars including Alisson Becker and Alexis Mac Allister as he prepares for his first ever Merseyside Derby.
Having masterminded 18 wins from his opening 20 games in the Anfield hotseat, the Dutchman has established the best record of any Reds manager at this stage in their tenure. However, his side dropped points for only the second time in his short spell in the 3-3 draw against Newcastle United in midweek.
Slot will be hoping for an instant response from his players in what promises to be a bear pit atmosphere in what will be the final-ever game against local rivals Everton at Goodison Park. The ex-Feyenoord boss will have to do without seven of his key men for the short trip across Stanley Park.
Speaking at his press conference prior to the clash with the Toffees, Slot confirmed that forwards Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa are both "close to being back" at this stage, while ruling them out for the fixture. When it comes to first-choice goalkeeper Alisson, the Reds boss added that he is "not ready yet" but would be returning to fitness "soon".
As for injured defenders Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate, they will be out of action for the next "few weeks" too, with both players expected back before the end of the month. In addition, full-back Konstantinos Tsimikas is also expected to miss the clash with Everton and will likely return next week.
Aside from these absences through injury, midfielder Mac Allister will also not feature against the Blues after picking up a suspension for the game. That came after he received a booking against Newcastle meaning that he has accumulated five yellow cards so far this term.
(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Despite being without a host of names for the derby Slot appeared to be keeping positive as he looks to return the Reds to winning ways at the first time of asking. Revealing his approach ahead of the historic fixture, he said: "As a manager you always lean on your players for your idea and plan but it always depends on the players if they are ready to work hard and play their best.!
"People told me but I have to know their style, what we can expect and we need to be aggressive but in a smart way," he said of Liverpool's next opponents. "Last season we went there, I watched it back yesterday, and half 30 minutes, I was surprised as Liverpool made 10 fouls and only one by Everton and we had the ball."
Addressing where Sean Dyche's team could potentially hurt his side, Slot continued: "They are a big threat, so can't give away free-kicks, that is not smart. So aggressive, yes, in a smart, concentrated way.
"I think we want to be aggressive, on the front foot, no different but we try to adjust to the other team's threat and where we feel we can hurt them. We have to be very aggressive, they work hard so if you want to talk about tactics, you have to match their work rate, which we have shown. We need that at Everton. Team works hard and the fans will help."