Slot: Form Means Nothing in Merseyside Derby as Reds Eye Recovery

Arne Slot backs Liverpool to respond at Everton after PSG exit

Arne Slot says Liverpool cannot afford a slip-up at Everton Sunday as they chase top four. Reds boss also addresses PSG exit and Ekitike injury.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot knows form goes out the window ahead of every Merseyside derby. Slot confident Reds motivated for ‘special’ first trip to new Goodison...

Arne Slot says Liverpool cannot afford a slip-up at Everton Sunday as they chase top four. Reds boss also addresses PSG exit and Ekitike injury.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot previews “special” first derby at Everton’s new stadium. Reds look to bounce back from PSG loss with top-four race tight.

Slot: Derby form goes out the window. Liverpool head to Everton’s new ground after PSG exit, with Ekitike out long-term and top four on the line.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot knows form goes out the window ahead of every Merseyside derby. Slot confident Reds motivated for ‘special’ first trip to new Goodison...

Liverpool go to Everton’s new stadium on Sunday for the first time, with the Toffees in good form and the Reds having just been eliminated from the Champions League by PSG.

Slot, in this morning's preview, said: “Always a very special game, doesn't matter if it's the 60th. But if it's the last and then the first one at a stadium, that makes it even more special if possible.

“They are in a very good place at the moment. You can add one or two per cent to the special game. It will always be a special game for them but it is for us.”

Sitting fifth in the Premier League and three points off the top four, Slot admits they cannot afford a “slip-up” on Sunday.

“It feels a bit like a mini-league. Every team is focused on team around them. Our focus now is not on Arsenal but on the teams around us. Our main focus is on the first game at hand and that's Everton.

"It's important to know when you play and when. I know we have lost a lot of games after European and away from home, and a few of them were 12.30s on the Saturday after Wednesday which is difficult for any team. Good thing for us is that we played on Tuesday and now it's not a game until Sunday.”

Bouncing Back From PSG

Liverpool were beaten home and away by PSG 2-0 to lose their Champions League quarter-final 4-0 on aggregate. Slot, however, is confident his players have moved on mentally from the setback.

He reflected: “They showed a lot of character against PSG. Being the better team v PSG is very complicated, let alone three games in seven days against an opponent two. A lot of my players broke records in terms of physical output, that tells you how strong and ready they are.

“That won't be any different on Sunday. The crowd (at Everton) didn't affect me last season, the referee decisions did. I don't think a stadium is loud, the fans are loud. Their fans will be loud as ours will be as well. It's not the stadium that makes the difference, it's the players and the fans can have an impact on the players.”

“A very special game.” 💬

Read a round-up from Arne Slot's pre-Merseyside derby press conference:

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 17, 2026

On the intensity of Tuesday night, Slot also insisted: “Don't think it will affect us. It didn't against Fulham although I have to factor in the Anfield factor. The fans play a big part if you want to go as aggressive as we were against PSG. We took the same risk in Paris and they were five or six times in front of our goalkeeper. But we kept them away from us at Anfield.”

Ekitike Sidelined

Slot also addressed Hugo Ekitike’s Achilles injury, which could rule him out for up to nine months. The striker picked up the injury during the defeat to PSG at Anfield.

Slot said: “He hasn't been operated on yet. Devastating for him coming to a new club having so much impact straight away. Playing against your former club in a Champions League quarter-final with so much to come for him in the summer. First thoughts are with him being out for such a long time, missing out on some many special moments.

“Not the first and not the last player who experienced something like this at start of career and so many examples of players coming back even stronger.”

Arne Slot has backed Hugo Ekitike to return 'stronger' from his Achilles injury:

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 17, 2026

Summer Transfer Balance

Slot was also asked about midweek claims that Liverpool are in a position where they must sell major players to buy this summer.

With the likes of Mohamed Salah and Andrew Robertson departing this summer, replacements must be found. But Slot admits some juggling will be needed to comply with Profit and Sustainability rules.

He explained: “Last year we made quite a lot of signings and that's why we traded that much. In four windows had net spend of £150 million. That says what kind of club we are. We know we are changing at least two players, but Kostas (Tsimikas) is coming back.

“First aim is to see how we react in position of Mo whether we want to replace with similar player or do that differently. At this moment of time there's not a chance of a lot of players leaving. Of course there's Ibou's (Konate) contract situation.”