Arne Slot defends Liverpool spending ahead of Merseyside derby, speaks on seeing red against Everton at Goodison
Published 19/09/2025 at 17:26 GMT+1
In an exclusive interview with TNT Sports pundit Ally McCoist, Liverpool manager Arne Slot defended his side's sizeable summer spending, spoke about seeing red against The Toffees in last season's encounter at Goodison Park, and revealed which competition he wants to win most this season. The Merseyside derby is live on TNT Sports and discovery+ as the Saturday lunchtime kick-off.
'Rivalry' but 'respect' - Slot on the Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton
Video credit: SNTV
Liverpool boss Arne Slot defended the club's sizeable summer spending ahead of Saturday’s Merseyside derby with Everton.
The Reds will hope to continue their winning start to the Premier League campaign when they take on Merseyside rivals Everton at Anfield on Saturday, with the game live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
And ahead of the encounter, Slot sat down with TNT Sports pundit Ally McCoist for a wide-ranging interview touching on Liverpool’s summer window, the fall-out from last season’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park and the competition the club wants to win the most this year.
The arrival of Sweden international Alexander Isak for a British record fee of £125m took Liverpool's summer spending to around £446m, with the likes of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong having also joined earlier in the summer.
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.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
"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."
Slot added that his lack of squad depth last season cost Liverpool in March, when they lost 2-1 to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final, and were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.
"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."
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Liverpool’s opponents on Saturday have been buoyed by their own summer business at the start of this term.
Indeed, Manchester City loanee Jack Grealish won the Premier League’s Player of the Month award for August after helping The Toffees rack up seven points from their opening four league games.
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.
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Arne Slot, Manger of Liverpool, shakes hands with Match Referee Michael Oliver following the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park
Image credit: Getty Images
"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."
How to watch Liverpool v Everton
Liverpool v Everton will be live on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and discovery+.
TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.
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