Liverpool

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Wolves (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Slot confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold is training with the team again after playing half an hour on Wednesday, while Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton remain out. He also said Cody Gakpo is a "doubt" after picking up a "knock" against Everton.

• Following his red card at Goodison Park, the Liverpool boss said he wants to "respect" the "ongoing process" and "can't go into detail" on what happened: "What happened was that, during the extra time that was intended to be five and went to eight, a lot happens and the emotions got the better of me. If I could do differently, I would have loved to do it differently. I hope to do it differently the next time."

• On how he feels about Curtis Jones' reaction at full-time, after the midfielder received a red card: "Happy he stands up a lot for the team. There are other ways to do that for the team and fans, so I will talk with him about that. But the same for me - I should have acted differently after the game too. But, it is an emotional sport. Individuals make wrong decisions out of emotion and that is what I did."

• On the result of the Merseyside derby: "It felt immediately after the referee blew his whistle that we lost two points. But during the 98 minutes, I didn't feel constantly that we were going to win the game. It felt like an equal game and the draw would've been a fair result."

• He did see plenty of positives though: "We won a lot on Wednesday. What I mean by that is when you look at the togetherness of the fans and the players and how much we fought to get the result. We have been praised so many times this season for how well we can play, but the players showed a different side. It gives me a lot of confidence for the upcoming 14 games."

• He and his staff talk about "mentality" with players on a "daily basis": "If you want to play at a top club like this, you need to have more than quality - you need mentality as well. If players don't have this inside them, then they don't play for one of the biggest clubs in the world."

• Slot praised Wolves' improvement under Vitor Pereira and spoke about forward Matheus Cunha's impact: "If you go to the Dutch league and look at that position [of team in 17th], there is no player like that. But he has the quality to play for one of the top five teams in England. It is one of the reasons why it is more difficult to win against number 17 in England than in Holland."

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Crystal Palace have won just one of their past 20 Premier League games against Everton, beating them 3-1 at Selhurst Park in December 2021.

David Moyes has lost all three of his managerial meetings with Oliver Glasner - twice against Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2021-22 Europa League and once against Crystal Palace in the Premier League last season while in charge at West Ham.

Only three managers have won each of their first four games against David Moyes: Claudio Ranieri won his first six, while Alex Ferguson and Manuel Pellegrini won their first four.

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BBC Sport pundit and former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha has been answering your questions on your club.

Finley asked: As you were a defender, who was the most difficult attacking player you've played against and why did you find them hard to contain?

Nedum replied: If I am going off someone I played against several times, it would have to be Wayne Rooney.

Before we both made our professional debuts, I remember seeing him play for Everton in the Youth Cup. They said there was this kid that was supposed to be unbelievable and is only about 16 years old.

The Youth Cup was for under-18s, yet I watched him bully City's 18 year olds that day.

I must have been about 15 at the time and I remember thinking that was interesting. Fast forward a few months and he was scoring that goal against Arsenal.

As a player, he had so much drive, passion and technical ability but he also had the desire to be involved in the game as well. Whenever you played against him, it was very rare he would have a quiet day because if he was quiet in front of goal, he would still have an active day in how he was pressing and going into one-on-one battles.

Rooney was a strong runner, he had an eye for a pass and was just super aggressive as well. So if he hadn't scored against you then you would know he had had a different level of impact within his team.

Plus, when he finished his career, he was England and Manchester United's top goalscorer, which are two pretty impressive accolades in the history of football.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Newcastle United and Sweden striker Alexander Isak is very interested in a move to Liverpool. (Teamtalk), external

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Mike Richards
Fan writer

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Blood and thunder. A throwback. A proper Merseyside derby, with the most fitting of endings.

The fireworks began on Goodison Road a couple of hours before kick-off as the Everton coach arrived at the ground and continued throughout a moody evening that had it all.

It was pure theatre.

If you could have scripted it, it would not have been written much better.

Faces coated in blue powder littered the stands. Braveheart-inspired Evertonians prepared for the extended battle that was to come.

Considering the gap between the two sides in the table, it certainly was not evident on the pitch.

Everton played with a belief and an edge. A squad riddled with injuries, including losing our most creative player Iliman Ndiaye early on, it would have been easy for the manager to inflict a more pragmatic attitude onto the players. This Everton side appear to be different.

There was time a time for digging in. There was a time for football. Whatever was needed, it was on show in abundance.

It was almost poetic that it ended the way it did.

James Tarkowski had a difficult game against Bournemouth only a few days earlier. It was almost written in the stars that he would artistically – and brutally – write his own redemption song.

He will never catch a ball that perfectly ever again.

Cue pandemonium.

Fans on the pitch. Players in the crowd. The corner flag raised in triumph and blue smoke rising into the night sky. Pure, unadulterated joy.

Not even a prolonged VAR check was going to ruin this final chapter.

Full time scraps and post-match red cards just about summed it all up.

Goodison Park. Our Colosseum. Our home and always in our hearts.

There is nowhere quite like it.

Find more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Everton's late showing in the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park was further evidence of the quick progression made under David Moyes since he returned to the club.

Before he took charge on 11 January, the Toffees were just a point above the relegation zone, while only bottom club Southampton had won fewer games (one) and scored fewer goals (12) than them (three wins, 15 goals).

Fast forward a month and 10 points from their past four Premier League games sees Everton 10 points clear of the drop zone in 15th place.

While the team as a whole has so far benefitted from the former boss' return, some players in particular are really starting to find their feet under the Scotsman.

One of those is striker Beto.

Having struggled not only for goals but also for minutes under Sean Dyche, the 27-year-old has already spent more time on the pitch in the league this season (262) across four games under Moyes than he had in his previous 12 (221).

With three league goals, including the opener against Liverpool on Wednesday, Beto has also already trebled what he had under Dyche in this campaign. This improvement has seen him bring his minutes per goal down from 221 to 87.

Having averaged the worst shot quality (0.08 xG per shot) in the league this season under Dyche, Everton had improved the quality of their chances before the Merseyside derby to 0.15 Expected Goals (xG) per shot.

With better chances being created, it is giving forwards like Beto more opportunities to get shots on goal.

His seven total shots under Moyes is second among his team-mates. Under Dyche he had just the 11 and was eighth in the team rankings.

The Guinea-Bissau international is also converting more of these chances with his shot conversion rate sky-rocketing from just nine percent up to 43%.

Even just being in the box more can help strikers take chances. It might not be spectacular, but it can help a player and the team stack up the number of times the ball is being put in the back of the net and this is another area where Beto has shown improvement.

He is joint-third among Everton players for touches in the opposition box under Moyes with 13 - one off Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucoure - and just five short of the 18 he had under ex-Burnley boss Dyche.

It is this kind of boost in form that both player and club desperately needed as the Toffees bid to make sure they begin life in their new stadium in the Premier League next season and not the Championship.

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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk wants his side to get over their Merseyside derby frustrations "as soon as possible" in order to focus on their title pursuits.

The Reds were pegged back at the death in Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Everton, a result which leaves them seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Head coach Arne Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff were shown red cards by referee Michael Oliver after the fixture. Slot, who has already served a one-match touchline ban for accumulating three yellow cards, must now await the match official's report to discover what, if any punishment, he will receive.

"I think conceding a goal in the last seconds of a game, or even after added time of a game, is very difficult," said Van Dijk.

"That hurt and should hurt for each one of us but it is the reality. You have two things you can do: you can dwell on it and stay angry about it or you can take it on board, start the recovery and be ready for Wolves because that will be a difficult test again and I think that's the best thing to do.

"I think it is better to just get over it as soon as possible. It is very difficult to just put it aside because it is still so fresh and you are still thinking about it a lot and what you could have done better and differently but from today we have to move on.

"We all know we could have played better but we all know this is their game of the season and we've seen it over the years.

"Overall I think we definitely could have done better but you are still playing against a team who has strength in the way they played and we have to adapt to that."

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot prides himself on staying cool during matches - but even he could not maintain his calm in the hothouse that was Goodison Park on Wednesday night.

He was sent off, along with assistant Sipke Hulshoff, as were Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure and Liverpool midfield man Curtis Jones.

They were all involved in chaotic scenes after James Tarkowski's equaliser, Liverpool's rage and frustration clear after the goal was given.

When the dust settled, and there is an awful lot of dust to settle after an explosive night at the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, Slot and Liverpool can reflect on now being seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Would they have settled for that at the start of the season? You bet.

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Everton defender James Tarkowski relished providing Goodison Park with a supremely memorable moment in the final Merseyside derby at the ground - and said it also provided him with a form of personal redemption.

After a difficult day against Bournemouth in the FA Cup exit on Sunday, his stunning 98th-minute equaliser against Liverpool returned the smile to his face.

"I had a really tough weekend," said the defender. "I was really disappointed with how things went in the FA Cup and was really disappointed in myself, so to come back and score like that felt special.

"[I had] a little bit of support from team-mates and family but it is not nice when you have a tough game like I had over the weekend. You do question things a little bit but we luckily have games that come round quick, and thankfully it did in a massive occasion.

"It is all part of being a footballer - having tough moments - and part of that is bouncing back."

Tarkowski also reflected on the pandemonium after his goal and how they are now part of the fabric of Goodison Park.

"A special, special night and what a way to finish the last derby here," he said. "I had an 80-year-old man grabbing me and then a five-year-old kid pulling me to the floor. There were stewards everywhere. Chaos - but what a moment it was!

"I've had a couple of proud moments; promotions and playing for my country, but for me this is the biggest just with everything which is happening right now, leaving this iconic stadium.

"For me, it will be the biggest goal of my career."

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

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Everton looked lost and in trouble when they sacked Sean Dyche las tmonth but, in a few short weeks, David Moyes has given them fresh confidence and belief - and far more importantly, 10 points.

There was no disguising his passion on the touchline last night in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, as well as the celebrations for James Tarkowski's last minute equaliser.

Moyes looks right at home in his second spell, and his previous knowledge of what Everton fans demand plays right into the atmosphere experienced last night.

Josh Sexton
Fan writer

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The final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park having four goals, four red cards and last-kick-of-the-game drama, only felt like a fitting way to say goodbye to The Old Lady.

Being honest, I'll be more than glad to see the back of the place for how it makes Everton players seem 10-feet-tall in recent derbies, and in contrast makes Liverpool's stars look a lot less than the sum of their parts.

The Reds were simply not intelligent enough in their game management and I think a 2-1 win would've flattered them, and that's what I think will rankle the most with Arne Slot.

Any refereeing decisions, luck or circumstance in moments are hardly likely to be the subject in the analysis rooms of their training centre in Kirkby, but I hope they're having an in-depth chat about how they can be smarter in creating their own luck and not leaving games so in the balance as to let circumstance decide the outcome.

Besides Alexis Mac Allister, few of those that started on the night can say they felt they gave the best version of themselves. While I have some sympathy around the extenuating circumstances that Goodison Park and Michael Oliver provided, they'll face more adversity in the coming weeks and months, and they'll need cooler heads to prevail.

They possess those characteristics and the requisite depth to take any future challenges head on, but Slot may feel there is a lot both he and his players can learn from that cauldron of emotion they left some time after the final whistle.

Strip the emotion out of it, Liverpool. Play your best game, and not the occasion, and you can beat anybody in world football right now.

Find more from Josh Sexton at The Anfield Wrap, external

James Tarkowski took the headlines and instant plaudits but did substitute Jack Harrison fly under the radar for his performance in Wednesday's drama-filled draw with Liverpool.

The winger came into the fixture for the injured Iliman Ndiaye on 25 minutes and proceeded to put a fine shift in at both ends.

Looking at post-match data from Opta, we can see Harrison had three touches in the Liverpool box and two shots inside the box - no Everton player had more.

He completed 20 of his 24 passes for a completion rate of 83.3%. Of the players who featured for a substantial spell in the game, only Tarkowski matched that rate. The likes of Ashley Young and Iliman Ndiaye had 100% completion but were brought on late on or taken off early in the fixture respectively.

Harrison also had 16 duels in the match, winning eight. Only Idrissa Gueye - who won nine - battled with more success in a blue shirt.

If that is not testament enough to his spirit, the on-loan Leeds player won three tackles and three fouls - both metrics saw him joint-top of Everton's rankings.

The left flank occupied by Harrison was key for Everton, with 50% of their play featuring in that area when we look at data for attacking thirds.

Harrison had 55 touches on the night having missed over a quarter of the fixture. His tally was third in Everton's team, with Vitaly Mykolenko (58) and Jarrad Branthwaite (61) bettering him - though both played the entire fixture.

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The last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park was never likely to bow out quietly - a 98th minute equaliser from James Tarkowski and a brawl between players after the final whistle made sure of that.

The scenes at full-time led to some confusion over who had received red cards from referee Michael Oliver.

So who was sent off and why? And how long will they be suspended for?

After Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure went and celebrated the result in front of Liverpool fans, Reds midfielder Curtis Jones reacted by shoving his opponent before a mass brawl ensued between players from both sides.

Having already been on yellow cards, both Jones and Doucoure received second yellows and therefore red cards from Oliver.

That means both will miss their side's next match - Sunday's Wolves clash for Jones and Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace for Doucoure.

The two players were not the only ones to be given their marching orders after the final whistle, with Liverpool boss Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff also shown red cards.

Slot appeared to be sent off after exchanging words and an angry-looking handshake with referee Oliver .

According to the Premier League website, the Dutchman "was dismissed at the end of the Merseyside derby for using offensive, insulting, or abusive language".

As a result, neither Slot or his assistant could conduct post-match media duties due to rules put in place by the Premier League in 2023 which state: "Occupants of the technical area who have been dismissed are not allowed to take a seat in the stand, return to the field of play post-match, or conduct any post-match media."

The Premier League had earlier suggested Slot would receive a two-match ban before deleting it on their website.

He could still receive a touchline ban as a result of the red card, however, the Football Association needs to review referee's Michael Oliver's report. Then, they will make a decision on whether to take no further action, remind the Reds head coach of his responsibilities or charge him.

The FA has three working days to make the decision meaning it still may not come before Sunday's clash with Wolves at Anfield and Slot could still be in the dugout.