On Wednesday night, Arne Slot, in his first Merseyside derby as Liverpool manager, led the team to Goodison Park for the last time in the season, hoping to extend Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League. Meanwhile, Everton aimed to continue their impressive form under new manager David Moyes.
Before the match even began, Liverpool made a historic decision that left fans stunned. With concerns over star defender Trent Alexander-Arnold’s fitness, it was confirmed that he would start on the bench after picking up an injury in the match against Bournemouth two weeks prior. This marked the first time in Liverpool’s history that they named a starting lineup in a Premier League match against Everton without a single English player.
However, there were four English players on the bench—Alexander-Arnold, Jarell Quansah, Harvey Elliott, and Curtis Jones.
In a pre-match interview, Slot explained that Alexander-Arnold was not fit to start but could make a late appearance if needed. He also emphasized the importance of managing player workloads, especially with a demanding schedule ahead. “Trent can come in for a few minutes. We have a lot of good substitutes, and it’s good to have him with us,” Slot added, referring to the packed fixture list that saw Liverpool playing five games in 15 days.
