Arne Slot makes bold prediction for next season and hits back at Liverpool 'doubts'

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has hit back at suggestions his team lack the physical appetite for Sunday's Merseyside derby against Everton, while insisting the Reds will be a completely different proposition next season

Arne Slot has hit back at claims made about his Liverpool team(Image: Getty Images)

Arne Slot insists Liverpool is ready for a derby battle against Everton — and has restated his conviction that his side will be an entirely different prospect next season.

The Reds travel to Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time for the 248th Merseyside derby on Sunday, looking to bounce back after being knocked out of the Champions League by holders Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.

While Liverpool controlled possession for spells of the second half, a failure to find the net enabled PSG to grab two late goals and complete a 4-0 aggregate victory. The Reds' sole objective now will be securing Champions League qualification, with Slot's side holding a four-point cushion in fifth position ahead of their pursuers, which includes Everton, who sit a further point behind.

David Moyes's team thrashed Chelsea 3-0 in their most recent home fixture, with many Liverpool fans anticipating a stern test of their side's physical and aerial prowess.

However, Slot has rejected suggestions that the Reds may lack the stomach for a fight against their rivals and said (as per the Liverpool Echo): "If it's true, would these same people have doubted how we would have performed against Paris Saint-Germain? Would they have thought they (PSG) are going to run over us and it's going to be ridiculous?

"Then they saw a team that competed as hard as it did and worked as hard as it did.

"I cannot change the height of my players, so that's the first thing, but I think my players have shown throughout this season after all the setbacks we've had – and we have had a lot – that they were able to compete again."

Arne Slot and Virgil van Dijk after PSG knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool's character has been questioned at various points this season, most notably when Virgil van Dijk claimed the side had "given up" during the humiliating 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester City earlier this month.

However, Slot responded: "Now maybe there is a complete focus on that 20 minutes against City who, by the way, did the same thing at Stamford Bridge a week later when scoring three goals in 15 minutes.

"But I look at it that I've seen my team work hard every single game. Maybe the outcome doesn't always show it but the question is always, what is working hard? Can you expect a player of a certain height to win a header against a taller player?

"But they will 100% work hard because they know what this game means to the fans and what it means to us."

With Hugo Ekitike ruled out for the remainder of the season and Joe Gomez also absent, Slot faces several significant selection dilemmas, with left-back Andy Robertson, forwards Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo, and teenage winger Rio Ngumoha all pushing strongly for a recall.

Liverpool will end the campaign without silverware for the first time in three years and, with five of its final six Premier League fixtures coming against sides in close proximity to them in the table, faces a genuine battle to secure its Champions League place.

Nevertheless, Slot remains confident the Reds are already beginning to turn the tide and that the likes of Florian Wirtz are demonstrating their ability to handle the relentless nature of the Premier League.

Florian Wirtz battles for possession during Liverpool vs PSG in the Champions League.(Image: Ryan Crockett/DeFodi via Getty Images)

"Compare the players we have signed with the start of the season and where we are now," he said. "I see a difference, in a positive way.

"If you saw what Florian was able to do in his third game in seven days (against PSG on Tuesday) and you compare that to the start of the season and my first thought is then always Brentford (away) after we played Eintracht Frankfurt away. I see a big difference.

"Will there ever be another season where we concede so many goals in extra time? I don't think that is even possible, so that would even add six, seven or eight points to our total.

"Will we ever have a season with so many injuries again? You can't rule it out but it is not realistic to have so much bad luck. And I can factor in even more things to this season.

Arne Slot has predicted Liverpool will improve next season

"The main thing is how we were able to compete against Paris Saint-Germain after only being two days off, with them being rested for a week, how we have been able to compete against the other quarter-finalists here at home.

"Then you see that with doing the right things in the summer and not being as unlucky as we were this season, we can have a better season."

Slot added: "I think people only start to believe when they are seeing it. That means results, for now, and for next season when they are seeing the team, although I think the belief was really there last summer when we signed a few players.

"That's usually what comes with a few signings, people get very excited by that. People usually first want to see it, and that's what we need to do after the summer."