LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Arne Slot thanked Everton for the support they showed their Merseyside rivals after Diogo Jota’s tragic death in July.
Jota died at the age of 28 in a car accident in Spain, plunging Liverpool into mourning just weeks after they celebrated winning the Premier League title.
The Portuguese’s final goal came in the last Merseyside derby in a 1-0 Liverpool win in April.
Everton make the trip back to Anfield on Saturday and on Friday Slot took the opportunity to praise the respect between the clubs despite their intense rivalry.
“They are a good team and there is rivalry but what I also liked and what I want to emphasize is — what they did when Diogo passed away,” he told reporters on Friday.
“They showed their respect and in these moments of time, it is so nice to see that in tragedies that the rivalry is still there but the respect to both is still there.”
Despite cruising to the title last season, Liverpool transformed their squad with a record spend of nearly £450 million ($612 million) for an English club in one transfer window.
The scale of change has shown in some disjointed performances from Slot’s men, but they have still managed to win all five of their Premier League and Champions League games so far thanks to late winners in every match.
“I prefer the situation of winning the games and pointing out that we can still improve things, compared to losing games,” added Slot.
The Dutch coach is confident that his new signings will have no problem adjusting to the intensity of the Merseyside derby thanks to their previous experience of big games at club and international level.
“For the new ones it is not for the first time that they play in circumstances where there are a lot of rivalries and intensity in the game,” he said.
“The focus should be on the rivalry but it should also be on what we need to do to win the game and that is being intense, that is winning the duels and that is also playing good on the ball and when we don’t have the ball.”
Alexander Isak made his Liverpool debut in Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid after his British transfer record £125 million move from Newcastle.
Slot said the Swede “felt his body more than ever” afterwards having missed most of pre-season attempting to force through his exit from St. James’ Park, with Hugo Ekitike expected to come back in for Isak on Saturday.
Slot thanks Everton for solidarity after Jota tragedy
https://arab.news/2ph9h
Slot thanks Everton for solidarity after Jota tragedy
- Everton make the trip back to Anfield on Saturday and on Friday Slot took the opportunity to praise the respect between the clubs
- “They showed their respect and in these moments of time, it is so nice to see that in tragedies that the rivalry is still there but the respect to both is still there“
Raphinha double helps Barcelona overcome resilient Osasuna
- Flick’s men now sit on 43 points, comfortably clear of second-placed Real Madrid
- Barcelona struggled to break down Osasuna’s deep defensive block
BARCELONA: Raphinha struck twice late in the second half as Barcelona secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over a resolute Osasuna side on Saturday, extending their lead at the top of the LaLiga standings to seven points.
Hansi Flick’s men now sit on 43 points, comfortably clear of second-placed Real Madrid, who have a game in hand and are set to play at Alaves on Sunday.
Despite their control of the game, Barcelona struggled to break down Osasuna’s deep defensive block until the 70th minute when Pedri’s incisive pass cut through the visitors’ defense, finding Raphinha in his stride.
The Brazilian forward took a controlled touch before unleashing a thunderous strike from the edge of the area, the ball arrowing inside the left post to finally break the deadlock.
Raphinha sealed the win in the 86th minute. A deflected cross from Jules Kounde on the right found the Brazilian unmarked at the far post, and he calmly volleyed the ball into an empty net, giving the scoreline a more comfortable look.
