“He has the experience to play at Premier League level, but definitely at Championship level.
“He’s ready for it, but it will always be helpful if the fans support him.”
Slot also confirmed that defender Joe Gomez is available again after missing the derby through injury, while midfielder Wataru Endo is making good progress and could return before the end of the season.
Despite discussions already under way about next season and Slot’s future, he said his focus remains firmly on the short term and Liverpool’s push for a top-five finish.
“Margins are small. One or two results can make a big difference. Two weeks ago we weren’t five points clear of sixth place and two results later we are,” he said.
“It can also go both ways, so my full focus is on Palace.”
Liverpool has faced Palace three times this season without a win, and Slot highlighted the challenge posed by Oliver Glasner’s side.
“They have a very good manager who is able to bring a lot of discipline to that team. It’s really hard to create chances against them,” he said.
“They have conceded the second-fewest goals after Arsenal, so that tells you a lot.”
Liverpool is fifth on 55 points and hosts 13th-placed Palace on Saturday as it continues its push for Champions League qualification.
“He has the experience to play at Premier League level, but definitely at Championship level.
“He’s ready for it, but it will always be helpful if the fans support him.”
Slot also confirmed that defender Joe Gomez is available again after missing the derby through injury, while midfielder Wataru Endo is making good progress and could return before the end of the season.
Despite discussions already under way about next season and Slot’s future, he said his focus remains firmly on the short term and Liverpool’s push for a top-five finish.
“Margins are small. One or two results can make a big difference. Two weeks ago we weren’t five points clear of sixth place and two results later we are,” he said.
“It can also go both ways, so my full focus is on Palace.”
Liverpool has faced Palace three times this season without a win, and Slot highlighted the challenge posed by Oliver Glasner’s side.
“They have a very good manager who is able to bring a lot of discipline to that team. It’s really hard to create chances against them,” he said.
“They have conceded the second-fewest goals after Arsenal, so that tells you a lot.”
Liverpool is fifth on 55 points and hosts 13th-placed Palace on Saturday as it continues its push for Champions League qualification.
Published on Apr 24, 2026
#Woodman #start #Liverpool #deal #goalkeeping #crisis #Palace #clash">Woodman could start as Liverpool deal with goalkeeping crisis before Palace clash
Liverpool’s third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman could feature in Saturday’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace, manager Arne Slot said as he looks to manage a goalkeeping crisis.
The 29-year-old made his first Liverpool appearance in last weekend’s 2-1 Merseyside derby win over Everton after Giorgi Mamardashvili, who had been playing in place of the injured Alisson Becker, was forced off in the second half.
“Giorgi will definitely not be available and not for the upcoming weeks,” Slot told reporters.
“Ali is close to returning to play. Let’s see if Saturday comes too early. That leaves Freddie Woodman as an option, who is definitely fit.”
Slot said Liverpool’s decision to sign an experienced third-choice goalkeeper was made with such scenarios in mind.
“Usually you don’t need him that much, but there could be situations when one is injured and one is suspended — or in this case, more than one is unavailable,” the 47-year-old said.
“He has the experience to play at Premier League level, but definitely at Championship level.
“He’s ready for it, but it will always be helpful if the fans support him.”
Slot also confirmed that defender Joe Gomez is available again after missing the derby through injury, while midfielder Wataru Endo is making good progress and could return before the end of the season.
Despite discussions already under way about next season and Slot’s future, he said his focus remains firmly on the short term and Liverpool’s push for a top-five finish.
“Margins are small. One or two results can make a big difference. Two weeks ago we weren’t five points clear of sixth place and two results later we are,” he said.
“It can also go both ways, so my full focus is on Palace.”
Liverpool has faced Palace three times this season without a win, and Slot highlighted the challenge posed by Oliver Glasner’s side.
“They have a very good manager who is able to bring a lot of discipline to that team. It’s really hard to create chances against them,” he said.
“They have conceded the second-fewest goals after Arsenal, so that tells you a lot.”
Liverpool is fifth on 55 points and hosts 13th-placed Palace on Saturday as it continues its push for Champions League qualification.
The top five teams will play in next season’s Champions League.
SALAH SCORES IN LAST MERSEYSIDE DERBY
Playing in his final derby ahead of his planned departure from Liverpool in the summer, Mohamed Salah stamped his mark on the game in the 29th minute as Everton gave the ball away cheaply and Cody Gakpo picked out the Egyptian who calmly fired home past Jordan Pickford to break the deadlock.
After a poor start, that goal jolted the visitors into life, but Beto brought Everton roaring back early in the second half by holding off Liverpool defender Andy Robertson before steering a low cross from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall into the net from close range.
In a worrying development for coach Arne Slot, keeper Mamardashvili was injured in the incident and had to be replaced by Freddie Woodman, and the 29-year-old had some worrying moments as he stepped in to mind the net for the remainder of one of the biggest fixtures in English football.
Deciding that attack was the best form of defence, Gakpo went close with a header for Liverpool that was cleared by James Tarkowski but Everton finished strongly and looked to be on its way to a well-deserved point.
However, Liverpool had other ideas, with substitute Rio Ngumoha blazing an excellent opportunity over the bar in the eighth minute of stoppage time at the end of the game before Van Dijk’s late heroics to snatch the win.
The top five teams will play in next season’s Champions League.
SALAH SCORES IN LAST MERSEYSIDE DERBY
Playing in his final derby ahead of his planned departure from Liverpool in the summer, Mohamed Salah stamped his mark on the game in the 29th minute as Everton gave the ball away cheaply and Cody Gakpo picked out the Egyptian who calmly fired home past Jordan Pickford to break the deadlock.
After a poor start, that goal jolted the visitors into life, but Beto brought Everton roaring back early in the second half by holding off Liverpool defender Andy Robertson before steering a low cross from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall into the net from close range.
In a worrying development for coach Arne Slot, keeper Mamardashvili was injured in the incident and had to be replaced by Freddie Woodman, and the 29-year-old had some worrying moments as he stepped in to mind the net for the remainder of one of the biggest fixtures in English football.
Deciding that attack was the best form of defence, Gakpo went close with a header for Liverpool that was cleared by James Tarkowski but Everton finished strongly and looked to be on its way to a well-deserved point.
However, Liverpool had other ideas, with substitute Rio Ngumoha blazing an excellent opportunity over the bar in the eighth minute of stoppage time at the end of the game before Van Dijk’s late heroics to snatch the win.
Published on Apr 19, 2026
#Van #Dijk #scores #late #goal #Liverpool #derby #win #Everton">Van Dijk scores late goal for Liverpool in 2-1 derby win over Everton
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk scored with a header in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time on Sunday to snatch a 2-1 Premier League win in a thrilling climax to the first Merseyside derby at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Liverpool once again looked shaky and lost goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to injury in the second half, but Van Dijk dug deep to deliver a victory that boosts its hopes of Champions League football despite a disappointing season.
The result leaves Liverpool fifth in the standings on 55 points, three behind Aston Villa with five games left to play. Everton is 10th on 47 points.
The top five teams will play in next season’s Champions League.
SALAH SCORES IN LAST MERSEYSIDE DERBY
Playing in his final derby ahead of his planned departure from Liverpool in the summer, Mohamed Salah stamped his mark on the game in the 29th minute as Everton gave the ball away cheaply and Cody Gakpo picked out the Egyptian who calmly fired home past Jordan Pickford to break the deadlock.
After a poor start, that goal jolted the visitors into life, but Beto brought Everton roaring back early in the second half by holding off Liverpool defender Andy Robertson before steering a low cross from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall into the net from close range.
In a worrying development for coach Arne Slot, keeper Mamardashvili was injured in the incident and had to be replaced by Freddie Woodman, and the 29-year-old had some worrying moments as he stepped in to mind the net for the remainder of one of the biggest fixtures in English football.
Deciding that attack was the best form of defence, Gakpo went close with a header for Liverpool that was cleared by James Tarkowski but Everton finished strongly and looked to be on its way to a well-deserved point.
However, Liverpool had other ideas, with substitute Rio Ngumoha blazing an excellent opportunity over the bar in the eighth minute of stoppage time at the end of the game before Van Dijk’s late heroics to snatch the win.
#Szoboszlai #apologised #Liverpool #fans #Champions #League #clash #PSG">Why Szoboszlai apologised to Liverpool fans before Champions League clash with PSG
Widely considered Liverpool’s player of the season, Dominik Szoboszlai found himself apologising to the club supporters on Monday for what he described as a “misunderstanding.”
The midfielder has been in outstanding form in a difficult season for Liverpool — scoring 12 goals including stunning strikes against Arsenal and Manchester City.
But his reaction after the 4-0 FA Cup loss to City this month — shrugging, raising his arms and clapping towards away fans — was interpreted by some as sarcasm when video footage was shared on social media.
He was ushered away by teammate Federico Chiesa as boos rang around the away end at Etihad Stadium.
Ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, Szoboszlai tried to put the record straight.
“Maybe it was a misunderstanding between me and the fans,” he said. “I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I know what the fans mean to this club and what the club means to the fans.
“We do everything for the fans as they do for us. If it was a misunderstanding then I apologise. I’m not feeling better than them, I feel exactly the same as they do. I am with them, we are with them and hopefully they are with us as well.”
Liverpool trails 2-0 after the first leg in Paris and is hoping for a famous turnaround against the defending European champion.
In the 2019 semifinals, the Merseyside club routed Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield after losing the first leg 3-0.
It will take something similarly heroic against PSG, which totally dominated the first leg in Paris last week.
“There is a belief that we can do special things tomorrow but we need to be very, very, very special tomorrow to achieve that because we are playing against the champions of Europe,” manager Arne Slot said. “We know we need an exceptional performance to go through to the next round.”
“People probably find it very hard what I am about to say now but the approach is not so different tomorrow than it was in Paris. For the people who know me I never tell them to play in a low block for 90 minutes,” he said.
“You could see we pressed them high on multiple occasions. Unfortunately, seven or eight of those moments led them to being one-on-one with our goalkeeper.
“The last time we faced each other they had the ball for 76 percent of the time, so that’s the first thing we have to change tomorrow, to have the ball more.
“If we have it more then it’s nice to have the attacking threat on the pitch and that’s what we will have tomorrow.”
“People probably find it very hard what I am about to say now but the approach is not so different tomorrow than it was in Paris. For the people who know me I never tell them to play in a low block for 90 minutes,” he said.
“You could see we pressed them high on multiple occasions. Unfortunately, seven or eight of those moments led them to being one-on-one with our goalkeeper.
“The last time we faced each other they had the ball for 76 percent of the time, so that’s the first thing we have to change tomorrow, to have the ball more.
“If we have it more then it’s nice to have the attacking threat on the pitch and that’s what we will have tomorrow.”
Published on Apr 13, 2026
#UEFA #Champions #League #Liverpool #special #night #stun #PSG #Slot">UEFA Champions League 2025-26: Liverpool needs ‘very special’ night to stun PSG, says Slot
Arne Slot admits Liverpool will need a “very special” performance to overturn its 2-0 deficit against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg on Tuesday.
Slot’s side are on the brink of being eliminated by PSG for a second successive season after a disappointing display in Paris last week.
Liverpool failed to muster a single shot on target at the Parc des Princes and Slot acknowledged the side will have to improve significantly to stun Luis Enrique’s team at Anfield.
“We know we need an exceptional performance to go to the next round but that’s completely normal when you face the champions of Europe,” Slot told reporters on Monday.
“In the 49 home games we have played under me, 36 times we were able to score two goals or more.
“Yes, we have not played all these 49 games against Paris Saint-Germain, I realise that, but the Premier League and Champions League opponents we had were very strong.
“So there is a belief we can do special things tomorrow but we need to be very, very, very special to achieve that.”
Slot has come under mounting scrutiny following Liverpool’s woeful defence of the Premier League title and its embarrassing FA Cup quarterfinal exit in a 4-0 thrashing at Manchester City.
After three successive defeats against Brighton, City and PSG, Liverpool kept the critics at bay, for a few days at least, with a 2-0 win against Fulham on Saturday.
But a tame exit from the Champions League would intensify the pressure on Slot ahead of Sunday’s Merseyside derby at Everton.
Start aggressive
Slot knows Liverpool needs to at least put up a better fight than in Paris, where it struggled to retain possession and rarely troubled the PSG defence.
“We are playing the champions of Europe so that makes the task more difficult but not impossible,” he said.
“For now let’s just focus on the job on hand, start aggressive and make sure we can get back in the tie.
“Even Saturday showed how important a goal is… minutes (later) we scored the second. That is what football is about, a goal can change the momentum, which happened negatively for us at Manchester City.”
While Slot was criticised for Liverpool’s passive first-leg performance, the Reds boss insisted his side could win with a similar approach at Anfield.
“People probably find it very hard what I am about to say now but the approach is not so different tomorrow than it was in Paris. For the people who know me I never tell them to play in a low block for 90 minutes,” he said.
“You could see we pressed them high on multiple occasions. Unfortunately, seven or eight of those moments led them to being one-on-one with our goalkeeper.
“The last time we faced each other they had the ball for 76 percent of the time, so that’s the first thing we have to change tomorrow, to have the ball more.
“If we have it more then it’s nice to have the attacking threat on the pitch and that’s what we will have tomorrow.”
#Premier #League #Ngumoha #Anfield #history #Salah #seals #Liverpools #win #Fulham">Premier League: Ngumoha makes Anfield history before Salah seals Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Fulham
Liverpool’s teenage winger Rio Ngumoha became the club’s youngest player to score a Premier League goal at Anfield on Saturday before Mohamed Salah struck four minutes later in a 2-0 win over Fulham that boosted its quest for a top-five finish.
The 17-year-old Ngumoha—already the team’s youngest scorer thanks to his goal at Newcastle in August when he was 16—etched his name alongside another record when he made space with a couple of stepovers before curling a rocket into the far corner in the 36th minute.
Salah doubled the lead with a first-time finish to the far corner in the 40th. The 33-year-old, who is leaving Anfield at the end of the season after nine remarkable years, tapped a hand to his Liverpool shirt crest with a wave to the crowd.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno had virtually no chance at stopping either goal.
With five Champions League places up for grabs next season, Liverpool remained fifth in the table on 52 points, four ahead of sixth-place Chelsea after its first league win since late-February.
It also came on the heels of three successive losses across all competitions, including a demoralising 4-0 rout by Manchester City in the FA Cup, and a 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of its Champions League quarterfinals.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot had said his side had been playing in “survival mode” against PSG on Wednesday, but it steadied itself on Saturday as the youth and experience of the two goal scorers at opposite ends of their careers combined to right the ship against Fulham.
Salah now has 108 Premier League goals at Anfield, with only Thierry Henry (114 at Highbury) netting more at a single venue in the competition’s history.
Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson called Ngumoha “unbelievable”.
“(The goal was) a great finish, great performance by him,” Robertson told Sky Sports. “He just keeps learning and listening, he’s such a good kid. He’s got a big future ahead of him, but here and now is pretty good as well.”
Liverpool almost scored a third goal in the second half on Saturday after Jeremie Frimpong worked the ball into the area before sending in an inviting cross for Cody Gakpo, but the forward could not finish.
Fulham narrowly missed a chance in the second half when Emile Smith Rowe’s attempt flew just wide of Giorgi Mamardashvili’s post.
Fulham is 11th on 44 points.
“Disappointing result, punished by the first half,” Fulham boss Marco Silva told the BBC.
“The statistics of the game were balanced in terms of shots and chances; it was very balanced. We had chances that we didn’t score. We were not ruthless enough.”
Liverpool has no time to rest on its laurels as it hosts PSG on Tuesday in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal.
“It’s a better place than it was two or three days ago or a week ago, but it’s also not that after we win everything is good again,” Slot told Sky Sports.
Liverpool is in fifth place in the Premier League — 21 points back of leader Arsenal but chasing Champions League qualification. The team, which has one win in its past six games in total, hosts Fulham on Saturday.
“I feel a lot of support but not only from the owners,” he said. “As weird as it might sound I also feel the support of the fans.”
Slot noted the fan enthusiasm at Parc des Princes during warmups as well as after being outplayed by PSG: “They were still singing for us and clapping for us.”
Slot ‘hails’ Robertson intensity
Robertson and the club announced Thursday that the left back will be leaving at the end of the season when his contract expires.
“What I remember most about him probably is the intensity he’s always playing with — we’ve learned something about intensity two days ago,” Slot said in reference to the PSG game, which Robertson didn’t start.
“This season he didn’t play as much as he was used to — still a lot but not as much as he was used to,” Slot said. “As a result of that, he’s leaving probably next season but not only that, I think it’s also difficult to be in that position longer than a season.”
Asked if playing time was Robertson’s motivation, Slot said: “Every player wants as much regular first-team football as possible, but it’s a question you should ask him.”
Liverpool is in fifth place in the Premier League — 21 points back of leader Arsenal but chasing Champions League qualification. The team, which has one win in its past six games in total, hosts Fulham on Saturday.
“I feel a lot of support but not only from the owners,” he said. “As weird as it might sound I also feel the support of the fans.”
Slot noted the fan enthusiasm at Parc des Princes during warmups as well as after being outplayed by PSG: “They were still singing for us and clapping for us.”
Slot ‘hails’ Robertson intensity
Robertson and the club announced Thursday that the left back will be leaving at the end of the season when his contract expires.
“What I remember most about him probably is the intensity he’s always playing with — we’ve learned something about intensity two days ago,” Slot said in reference to the PSG game, which Robertson didn’t start.
“This season he didn’t play as much as he was used to — still a lot but not as much as he was used to,” Slot said. “As a result of that, he’s leaving probably next season but not only that, I think it’s also difficult to be in that position longer than a season.”
Asked if playing time was Robertson’s motivation, Slot said: “Every player wants as much regular first-team football as possible, but it’s a question you should ask him.”
Published on Apr 10, 2026
#feel #complete #support #Arne #Slot #backing #Liverpool #bosses #Premier #League #form">I feel complete support: Arne Slot says he has backing from Liverpool bosses despite Premier League form
Liverpool manager Arne Slot says he feels “complete support” from the club’s ownership even though his team is on a three-game losing streak and facing a trophyless season.
Liverpool’s midweek 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal followed a 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup last eight and a 2-1 loss at Brighton in the Premier League.
The season had started with high hopes after the club’s record summer spending of $570 million on new players following a Premier League title in Slot’s first campaign.
“The club knows in which period of time we are in. In the meantime, I feel complete support,” Slot said Friday.
Liverpool is in fifth place in the Premier League — 21 points back of leader Arsenal but chasing Champions League qualification. The team, which has one win in its past six games in total, hosts Fulham on Saturday.
“I feel a lot of support but not only from the owners,” he said. “As weird as it might sound I also feel the support of the fans.”
Slot noted the fan enthusiasm at Parc des Princes during warmups as well as after being outplayed by PSG: “They were still singing for us and clapping for us.”
Slot ‘hails’ Robertson intensity
Robertson and the club announced Thursday that the left back will be leaving at the end of the season when his contract expires.
“What I remember most about him probably is the intensity he’s always playing with — we’ve learned something about intensity two days ago,” Slot said in reference to the PSG game, which Robertson didn’t start.
“This season he didn’t play as much as he was used to — still a lot but not as much as he was used to,” Slot said. “As a result of that, he’s leaving probably next season but not only that, I think it’s also difficult to be in that position longer than a season.”
Asked if playing time was Robertson’s motivation, Slot said: “Every player wants as much regular first-team football as possible, but it’s a question you should ask him.”
