Keep going but also keep calm, Arne Slot tells Liverpool

LONDON – Liverpool manager Arne Slot wants his team to always “keep going” but he also hinted that they could be a bit more composed, as he prepares for the Merseyside derby against Everton on Sept 20 in what promises to be a fiery clash at Anfield.

The Reds are riding high after a scintillating 3-2 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid on Sept 17, sealed by Virgil van Dijk’s stoppage-time header.

Remarkably, they have found a way to win with goals in the final 10 minutes in all five games this season, including their perfect four victories in the English Premier League.

However, there is also concern that Liverpool are throwing away two-goal leads (against Bournemouth, Newcastle United and Atletico) before finally clinching victory.

“We have only played five, so it is difficult to see a long-term pattern,” said Slot.

“It is not ideal if we have two-goal leads and we lose them, so we need to improve. But the good thing is if we have the urgency again, we can score. You can run out of steam or energy at the end of the season if you mentally and physically have to go all the way to the end all the time... so it is never ideal to do it all the time.

“We got criticised at 2-0 against Bournemouth (4-2 win) – we still attacked a lot... we always keep going. It was the same against Atletico – we weren’t trying to keep the lead, we wanted 3-0 or 3-1. Maybe we should be more composed or calm, but I like the mentality we have.”

Britain’s record signing Alexander Isak could see more time on the pitch after playing 60 minutes in his Liverpool debut on Sept 17, but Slot again gave nothing away.

“I don’t think I will tell the media a lot the day before the game how we start,” he said. “Let’s see how he has recovered today and we will think about the line-up.”

Liverpool will aim to win their first five matches at the start of a league campaign for just the third time. The odds are in their favour, as they have lost just one of their last 28 home meetings with Everton in all competitions, winning 17 and drawing 10.

But the Toffees, under David Moyes, have surprised many this season. Currently sixth, they have shown defensive grit with three clean sheets in their last five matches, and Jack Grealish has been a revelation on loan, injecting flair and creativity in attack.

“I think we have started well enough and I hoped we’d have got off to a good start and not be down near the bottom of the league and closer to the top,” said Moyes.

“It gives us something to hang on to and something to fight for. We didn’t get all the players we wanted in the window but... we got quite a bit of work done in the summer and hopefully we are in the right direction.”

Moyes, though, has never won a Premier League match at Anfield in 20 attempts, drawing six and losing 14. It is the joint most any manager has managed at one stadium without winning, along with the Scot himself at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge (D7 L13). AFP, REUTERS