Overview

• Arne Slot publicly praised Everton for showing respect following Diogo Jota’s death in July, highlighting solidarity beyond the rivalry.
• Everton are due at Anfield on Saturday for the first Merseyside derby of the season, which Slot called an even more special fixture.
• Jota, 28, died in a car crash in Spain, and his final Liverpool goal came in April’s 1-0 derby win.
• Liverpool reshaped their squad with a near-£450 million outlay, and Alexander Isak debuted in Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid after a £125 million move.
• Slot said Isak felt the effects of his first outing after a curtailed pre-season, with Hugo Ekitike expected to come back in on Saturday.