Arne Slot defends Liverpool spending ahead of Merseyside derby, speaks on seeing red against Everton at Goodison

Liverpool boss Arne Slot defended the club’s sizeable summer spending ahead of Saturday’s Merseyside derby with Everton.

And while much has been made of the Merseyside club’s transfer spend, Slot was keen to highlight the approximate £230m the club recouped in player sales this summer.

Slot said: “I can’t blame people when they don’t see or understand that we also bring money in.

“No club never sells and only buys. We didn’t have a big squad last season and (this summer) we did sell and bring players in. That is such an exception in English football.”

“I played a lot of time with the same players (last season),” the Dutchman added. “And I think that costs us at the end of March and also in the League Cup final (against Newcastle).

“But from November till March, that is the most difficult period here in England. And I think we won the league because I was always so consistent in playing the same players.

“But it was also the reason why we were not at our best in those two weeks in March.”

Liverpool’s opponents on Saturday have been buoyed by their own summer business at the start of this term.

Slot will be hoping for a better result, and a cooler head, than in March’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. That day, the Dutchman was sent off for dissent towards referee Michael Oliver after James Tarkowski netted a 98th-minute goal to claim a 2-2 draw.

He was later fined £70,000 and handed a two-match touchline ban.

“I put everything into Everton, looking for that 1% where I can make the difference,” Slot said. “And then a referee decision affects probably 10% or maybe 50% of what happens.

“He’s human and it’s out of your hands. And that is sometimes difficult to handle because you want to influence almost everything. Sometimes it’s in your favour, sometimes it’s against you.

“I’ve been involved in enough derby games to know they can get to you.”

McCoist wrapped up the interview with a cheeky final question: Which competition would Liverpool rather win this season – the Premier League or the Champions League?

“If I can only win one? It’s so difficult to pick,” Slot conceded. “It’s almost impossible. But I think I will then go for the Champions League this time.”

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