Liverpool is not in action in the Premier League this weekend despite the international break being over. That is because the round of games coming up is exclusively for FA Cup ties.
The Reds, of course, were knocked out in the last round of the competition when Plymouth Argyle shocked Arne Slot’s men. Harvey Elliott gave away a penalty and Liverpool exited the domestic tournament, later losing the Carabao Cup final to Newcastle United as well.
Having an extra few days on the training ground might be no back thing for Slot and his players. With a 12-point lead in the Premier League with nine games to go, they should still have more than enough to get over the line.
However, Liverpool will be desperate to come out on top in the derby having been penned back to a 2-2 draw in February’s rearranged fixture. Slot was sent off after the final whistle by referee Michael Oliver and then served a two-game touchline ban.
“I think what happened was that the extra time, the additional five minutes that ended up being eight, a lot happened and the emotions got the better of me,” Slot explained in a later press conference.
“If I look back at it, I would love to do it differently. I’m hoping to do [it] differently next time as well. What exactly has been said or what has happened, I just told you there is an ongoing process and I don’t want to disturb that.”
The highest number of points that Arsenal can end this season on is 85. Liverpool can still reach 97 but only needs five wins and a draw to confirm first place in the table, assuming that the Gunners win each of their matches in the meantime.
(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal dropped points against Manchester United earlier in the month. “I will defend my players all the time because the will to win, there is no question about that,” Mikel Arteta said after that. “But in those moments, we have to be better as a team. That’s it.”
His side then beat Chelsea before the international break. It has Fulham on Tuesday and then a trip to play Everton the Saturday after that.
Liverpool.com says: It is a rare luxury for Slot to have some time with his players this week. With the league title nearly wrapped up, he should take some chances in the final run-in to experiment a little.
What role does Federico Chiesa have in the long term, for instance? And what about the likes of Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah? Liverpool can take a look at them in the next few weeks ahead of what will be a massive summer.
