Arne Slot held a meeting with his Liverpool squad upon their return from international duty, emphasizing that being outworked is "almost unacceptable". The Reds' boss issued this rallying cry as they continue their pursuit of the Premier League title.

Slot took the opportunity on Sunday to remind his players of the high standards set this season. As Liverpool prepares to host Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday, it aims to edge closer to securing a 20th title.

However, following a Carabao Cup defeat by Newcastle before the break, Slot felt it necessary to deliver a stern message to his team. He stated: "There was definitely a message to the players and they came in Saturday and we had the meeting you are talking about yesterday [Sunday].

"The message is as simple as it has always been – don't accept you are outworked by a team, which we were, against Newcastle.

"If the stakes are so high, that is almost unacceptable, almost. It can happen in a season once or twice but it shouldn't happen many times."

For the clash with Everton, Liverpool is expected to have Alisson Becker and Ryan Gravenberch fit, while Conor Bradley could also feature after recovering from a hamstring issue. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold remains sidelined with an ankle problem.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot (Image: Getty Images)

Despite ongoing contract drama surrounding Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, Slot reaffirmed that it does not distract him from the Reds' quest for glory. Speculation regarding the future of the Reds right-back escalated during the international break with reports that Real Madrid is nearing a deal to sign him on a free transfer this summer.

Slot commented: "His situation is unfortunately that he is injured, otherwise people would have spoken that he had one or two brilliant performances for the England team.

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"But he is injured and for him that means he is fully focused on his recovery. For us it means we will try to help him to be back as soon as he can.

"And for the rest, for eight months it went a bit up and down with talks about him, Virgil or Mo, but we have never been focused on those talks, we have always been focused on what we have to do."

"For Virgil and Mo that is trying to win the Merseyside derby and for Trent it is trying to be fit as soon as he can."

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Arne Slot and his Liverpool squad are gearing up for a Merseyside Derby that presents an opportunity to showcase their season's excellence in the Premier League. This comes on the heels of Slot's admission that he made mistakes in the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle, not rotating his squad sufficiently after a gruelling Champions League knockout by Paris Saint-Germain.

For the first time this season, Liverpool has faced scrutiny. However, the sting of European disappointment and Wembley defeat will be quickly forgotten if they secure victories in the Premier League.

With a commanding lead at the top and likely just five wins away from clinching a 20th league title in May, the anticipation is building. The celebrations are set to be explosive, with red pyrotechnics and wild festivities, but there's still work to be done.

It begins with Everton's visit, with memories of the intense last derby at Goodison Park in February still fresh — a match that ended in a stalemate but hardly hindered Liverpool's title chase. Even potential points dropped tonight wouldn't spell disaster.

Yet, Slot has conceded that he misjudged the Newcastle clash, perhaps leaving something to prove this evening. In a Sunday meeting, he emphasized that relentless effort is essential.

Everton managed to outpace them at times in February, a scenario Slot is keen to avoid at Anfield. "Show them the work rate they have put in for so many games in a row," Slot urged, highlighting the importance of maintaining their high-energy performances.

The Liverpool boss admitted to his lack of rotation in the squad, using PSG as an example. He said: "Paris Saint-Germain was a great example of that, so maybe, maybe, maybe I made the biggest mistake by not rotating enough."

Liverpool boss Arne Slot held a meeting with his players after the international break (Image: 2025 Chris Brunskill/Fantasista)

"But I thought there were four days in between for Newcastle, they had enough rest but again it is too simple to only say we were outworked, we have to give credit to everything Newcastle did because in the end we conceded a corner.

"That is nothing to do with a sprint or tracking back or whatever, it is just conceding a corner but it is emphasising on what made us where we are now.

"For me, that is, apart from quality, an incredible work rate every single game we played in the Premier League."

Slot's admission has sparked questions about whether Liverpool needs more depth in its squad. Only Nottingham Forest have used fewer players than Liverpool this season in the league, with the Reds using 24 and the Tricky Trees on 23.

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Out of all the teams playing in Europe, Liverpool has made the fewest changes per league game.

Despite this, Slot insists he trusts players like Wataru Endo, Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott, even though they've had fewer minutes compared to regular starters.

He stated: "It is not to say that if you don't play someone, you don't trust them. I do.

"But probably I find the other ones a bit better otherwise I would make a different choice. Or they fit better in the team. Mo has certain qualities and Dom has certain qualities and these help each other.

"Whereas with other players it is a bit more difficult. That is what makes a team. I cannot play with 11 Mo Salahs and I cannot play with 11 Dominik Szoboszlais."

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Bukayo Saka made a return to the field after more than three months, scoring as a substitute in Arsenal's 2-1 victory over Fulham on Tuesday.

This win has narrowed the gap between the Gunners and Premier League leaders Liverpool to nine points. The England winger was brought on in the 66th minute to rapturous applause, having been sidelined due to a hamstring injury.

Within seven minutes, he found himself once again the toast of the Emirates Stadium, having headed home Arsenal's second goal. Mikel Merino netted the opener for second-place Arsenal in the 37th minute.

The North London side will need Liverpool to falter significantly if they are to clinch their first league title since 2004. Liverpool faces Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday, with eight rounds remaining in the Premier League.

Rodrigo Muniz managed to score a consolation goal for Fulham in stoppage time. Saka, who has been out of action since injuring his hamstring in a league match against Crystal Palace on Dec. 21, is back just in time for Arsenal's Champions League quarterfinals clash with Real Madrid next week.

Whether Gabriel Magalhaes will be fit to face the European champions is uncertain. The Brazilian center-back was substituted in the 16th minute against Fulham due to a suspected hamstring injury.

Mikel Arteta will be pleased with Bukayo Saka's return (Image: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Discussing Arsenal's chances of catching Liverpool, Declan Rice said after the game: "We know we're behind them in the league. We can only control what we can do and that's to win our eight games. We've slipped up one too many times this season, we will keep hunting them down and keep putting pressure on them that's all we can do."

On the injury to Gabriel, he added: "I don't know what's happened, I hope he's OK because he's been arguably our best player this season and we need him for big matches and big occasions."

In other matches, Wolverhampton secured a 1-0 victory over West Ham, moving further away from the relegation zone, while Nottingham Forest was set to host Manchester United later in the evening as part of a midweek round of fixtures.

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Arne Slot would not be drawn on the future of Liverpool vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold during his pre-Everton press conference, but the player is widely expected to join Real Madrid when his contract expires at the end of the current campaign.

Alexander-Arnold signed a four-year contract extension with Liverpool in 2021 but has long been courted by Real Madrid. The Spanish giant is still working on a deal to bring him in this summer but the player appears to have made up his mind.

Former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Scholes believes that it is an understandable decision to make for the number 66. Having spent so long at Anfield, he wants a new challenge and to test himself with another club in a different culture.

"I can understand why Trent Alexander-Arnold wants to go," Scholes said on the latest edition of The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet. "When we were growing up with the team we had, I try to imagine if a team like a Real Madrid or a Barcelona [came in for one of our players] and we were a dominant team.

"We felt like we could go on for a long time and win leagues and challenge for European cups. It didn’t work out as well as we wanted, but I don't think any of us would have wanted to go. If you talk about the Manchester United team now, then yes — good luck, you deserve to go.

"Trent is possibly looking at Liverpool and thinking other than having a good team and winning the Premier League, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be a dominant team for years to come. It still feels like there’s a few issues at Liverpool with Trent, Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah.

Liverpool vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold. (Image: Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport/CameraSport via Getty Images)

"There still looks like there’s work to do. You go to Real Madrid, and they are going to win leagues and European cups for the next 10 years so I can understand him wanting to do it from that point of view."

Liverpool.com says: Alexander-Arnold wouldn't be leaving because he doesn't think the Reds are heading in the right direction, but just because the allure of Real Madrid has proven too large. The player has been in the same club for a long time, living in the same city and might just want a change.

Ultimately, there is not really a great deal Liverpoolcould have done about that. It will, though, change his legacy and alter how he is viewed in the coming years. Whether that is fair or not, it is the reality.

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Alisson Becker got a head injury during the international break and Liverpool will check on him ahead of the Merseyside derby— while Ryan Gravenberch is fully fit again having returned early from Netherlands duty with a knock.

Joe Gomez was spotted working on his own but has not rejoined his teammates in the main group yet. And Conor Bradley, though he has returned to training, is touch and go with no risks to be taken. He might make the bench but seems unlikely to be thrown back into the team immediately.

Trent Alexander-Arnold remains sidelined and Slot would not be drawn on his future amid widespread reports that he is to join Real Madrid in the summer when his Liverpool contract expires. "His situation is unfortunately that he is injured," Slot said during his pre-Everton press conference.

"Otherwise people would have probably spoken that he had one or two good performances for the England team. He is injured and that means for him, he is fully focused on his recovery.

"We try to help him as much as we can and for the rest, of course, for eight months it went up and down with all kind of talks about him, Virgil [van Dijk] and Mo [Salah], but we have never been focused on those [outside] talks."

Jarell Quansah is likely to start at right-back with doubts over the other options. He played there against Newcastle United at Wembley and did well enough to suggest he would not be a concern.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. (Image: Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"I expect the same but with one difference; when Everton players do well, they won't get cheers — our players will," Slot said when he was asked about what he expects the differences to be between the Goodison and Anfield games. "That is a different emotion.

"Football-wise it is the same. David Moyes hasn't lost a game in the last nine league games so it would be strange if they did something different. But we are top of the league so it would be strange if we did something different.

"I hope I would act differently [to when he was sent off by Michael Oliver] but I can't promise that. I experienced eight minutes of so many controversies against us. I don't think I will experience that again but you never know."

Liverpool.com says: Quansah playing right-back would be absolutely fine for Liverpool. Given Bradley has only just come back, it would be a big shock if he was thrown straight into the action, especially in a game that is likely to be very intense.

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Liverpool finally returns to Premier League action with the Merseyside derby this midweek, with Everton coming to Anfield on Wednesday. Arne Slot has given his press conference ahead of the game and this is every word he had to say...

Trent Alexander-Arnold future: "His situation is unfortunately that he is injured," Slot said during his pre-Everton press conference. "Otherwise people would have probably spoken that he had one or two good performances for the England team.

"He is injured and that means for him, he is fully focused on his recovery. We try to help him as much as we can and for the rest, of course, for eight months it went up and down with all kind of talks about him, Virgil [van Dijk] and Mo [Salah], but we have never been focused on those [outside] talks.

"It is a situation that has been here for eight or nine months now. All these three players have played so well under these circumstances and it doesn't affect us at all.

"I always try to be rational and judge the PSG and Newcastle situation. It has not happened many times that from the nine serious games a team plays in Europe, you win eight and you only lose one game and you are out before the quarter-finals [of the Champions League]. But the final was the first time we deserved to lose a game."

Reaction to losing to PSG and Newcastle: "That was the first time we deserved to lose a game. There were not many things to like from the final. All of them played important international games. Like me, they were disappointed for us not winning our first trophy and being out of Europe. In the final, we were outworked. That's not what I like."

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. (Image: Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

How will this Merseyside derby be different to Goodison Park? "I expect the same but with one difference. When Everton players do well, they won't get cheers. Our players will. That is a different emotion.

"Football-wise it is the same. David Moyes hasn't lost a game in the last nine league games so it would be strange if they did something different. But we are top of the league so it would be strange if we did something different.

"I hope I would act differently [to when he was sent off by Michael Oliver] but I can't promise that. I experienced eight minutes of so many controversies against us. I don't think I will experience that again but you never know."

State of play heading into run-in: "Most of our players played one week. Everybody can understand the position we are in. We are so looking forward to these nine games. Our players are refreshed. It's not all negative.

"We played a final and we got beaten to a very good PSG team. I was proud of our performance against PSG. Maybe the best performance this season but unfortunately we lost on penalties."

Why Chiesa hasn't played much: "It wasn't only that I didn't see a lot of him during training sessions. It was also because he was also more than we wanted — and he wanted — injured.

"It was good to see that he impacted the game when he came in and that is what has happened this season already. Players come in and they impact the game. The assist was from Harvey Elliott who came on and impacted the game a few times now in the last few matches. It is good to see all these players are ready.

Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa. (Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

"That is partly my job but also the player's job to stay ready for the moment we need them. [Chiesa] is in competition with Mo Salah and I don't think you can deny that Mo had quite a good season, so that makes it sometimes tough for him.

"But we know we can trust him when we need him. Not only him, but also all of the other ones that maybe haven't played as much as Mo and Virgil, but we can trust them when we need them."

Rare chance to breath in the English calendar: "This one was after four months of non-stop work. I like this one the most. My first experience of playing in the winter as well.

"I need it the most maybe as well. If you want to achieve, you need to compete with the best teams in the world. There is no room for going a gear down. You always have to be on top of your game."

Opportunity to reflect on what happened so far: "Of course you reflect. You reflect on the first eight or nine months, and the last part before the break. Mostly I'm rational. I said immediately after we lost the final, it wasn't only negatives.

"We also extended our lead to 12 points so that tells you we did really well in the league. That we lose to one of the best teams in Europe was far from ideal but if I have to go out of a tournament, I prefer to go out against PSG, or to lose against Newcastle which are a good team.

"But I think it is an embarrassment if you lose against Plymouth Argyle. I do respect them a lot but they are not of PSG's quality, or Newcastle's quality. If you have to leave a tournament, do it by being beaten against two very good teams."

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

International break actually a chance for players to refresh themselves: "In the PSG game, I don't think in the eight or nine months I have been in this job, I've not seen my players work as hard as they did in the 120 minutes. Maybe that's also why we looked tired in the final.

"But maybe I don't give the right credit to Newcastle. They made it so difficult for us because of their game plan. When we were fit and Newcastle play like they did, it would still be a very difficult job for us to win that game.

"I don't think we were tired. Against PSG we were incredible in terms of work rate and in terms of intensity. They are maybe a bit more refreshed than a normal international break because most of them had a few days off as well for the first time in months."

Extra work on set pieces ahead of facing Everton? "I try to use data to my own advantage. We're always defensively the best team in the league when it comes to corners. We hardly concede goals. Then we concede three or four and it's already 26%. We have some of the best players for defending corners.

"In big games, you cannot win a big game if you have a negative balance in your set-pieces. Arsenal shows us on a weekly basis the strength of set-pieces. We want to do better attacking corners but we hope to keep our record defensively on set-pieces."

Slot also confirmed that Liverpool will make a final check on Alisson Becker ahead of the Merseyside derby. But his side is nearing a big boost with the timely return of Conor Bradley.

The young right-back is training with the team again but no decision has been made yet on whether he will play a part against Everton. "We have to make a smart decision with that," Slot said.

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