5 hours ago
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Arne Slot namechecked Jack Grealish as a player Liverpool must be wary of in Saturday’s Merseyside derby.
Everton travels to Anfield with renewed optimism after a summer in which the Toffees replenished their attacking options. Kiernan Dewsbury Hall, Tyler Dibling, Thierno Barry and Merlin Rohl all joined David Moyes’ squad as the club looks to build on the positivity made in the last year with its new stadium and change of ownership.
Of all the summer arrivals, Grealish has taken to his new surroundings quickest. The ex-Aston Villa man earned the August Player of the Month Award, beating Liverpool pair Dominik Szoboszlai and Hugo Ekitike to the prize.
Keen to put his Manchester City disappointment behind him, the on-loan winger has often saved his best for when facing Liverpool and has more goal involvements against the Reds than any other side in his career.
Unprompted, Slot named Grealish as the Toffees’ main threat ahead of the weekend clash.
“When we faced them last season, they had a very good spell,” said Slot on Friday. “It wasn’t a spell because they kept going with that and into this season again.
“I think they made some good signings. One of them is a player on loan who was worth £100million in the past, maybe still. Someone paid £100M for him, and he is doing so well for them: Jack Grealish.”
The 30-year-old has provided four assists already this season, and Everton hasn’t lost any of the four games he has started.
Meanwhile, Slot also took the opportunity to thank Liverpool’s rivals for the compassion and support they showed over the summer following the tragic death of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva.
Beto, Youssef Chermiti and club ambassador Ian Snodin left tributes outside Anfield the day after the devastating news. David Moyes and captain Seamus Coleman also paid their respects in the days that followed.
Speaking on Friday, the five-year anniversary of Jota signing for Liverpool, Slot said: “There is rivalry but what I liked and I want I want to maybe emphasize in this moment is what they did when Diogo passed away, coming to Anfield and be there.
“Of course, they showed their respect in sports director to sports director. It is so nice to see in those moments of tragedy, the rivalrly is still there but the respect towards both is also there.
“I’m looking forward to the game tomorrow because every Anfield game is special but the derby is maybe more special.”
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